Egypt's head coach Hossam Hassan delivered a poignant humanitarian message regarding the suffering of the Palestinian people during a press conference ahead of the World Cup 2026 Round of 16 match against Argentina, emphasizing that what is happening in Palestine transcends politics and sports, representing a humanitarian issue above all.
Hossam Hassan stated, "Those who do not feel the suffering of the Palestinian people are not human. It is a disgrace for all of us to leave the Palestinian people alone as they live in tents and face severe humanitarian hardships.".
He added that the images of fallen children and women, along with the spread of diseases, food shortages, and weather fluctuations, represent a tragedy that pains every person with a conscience.
The Egypt coach also called for empowering the Palestinian people to live in peace, asserting that raising the Palestinian flag is a message of support and justice for this people, stressing that his stance is based on humanitarian considerations that are not tied to nationality or religion, but rather to the right of every human being to live with dignity.
Hossam Hassan's remarks came days after he was seen raising the Palestinian flag following Egypt's qualification for the Round of 16, a moment that garnered widespread attention.
Meanwhile, FIFA confirmed that it does not intend to take any disciplinary action against him, as raising the flag of a member state of FIFA is not considered a violation of the tournament's regulations.
