President El-Sisi honors Egypt's national football team for World Cup performance

The team was awarded the Merit Cup and honorary decorations in recognition of their "heroic" performance and outstanding technical level during the 2026 FIFA World Cup. El-Sisi expressed pride and appreciation for the team's honorable performance, noting that it reflected the general sentiment across Egypt, Arab countries, and the world. He lauded the team's noble values, determination, perseverance, and discipline, emphasizing that their efforts created joy among citizens.

The President stressed that sport is not just about winning, but also about earning respect, which the team achieved. He also highlighted the importance of impartial talent scouts to identify young and emerging players, affirming the state's readiness to support promising talents and the national coaching staff. El-Sisi encouraged continued hard work, team spirit, and the development of new generations of players to build on current successes.

He later joined the team for lunch, where players pledged to continue their efforts for future achievements.