Published On 5/7/2026
FIFA responded to the possibility of imposing a penalty on Egypt national team coach Hossam Hassan, due to him raising the Palestinian flag after the end of the Australia match in the 2026 World Cup.
The name of coach Hassan (59 years old) has topped social networking sites over the past two days, not only because of his success in leading his country to qualify for the quarter-finals of the 2026 World Cup for the first time in its history, but also because of his courageous stance in support of the Palestinian cause.
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Hossam Hassan raises the Palestinian flag
Coach Hossam Hassan celebrated Egypt’s victory over Australia in the round of 32 of the World Cup, by raising the Palestinian flag in the heart of Dallas Stadium in the American state of Texas, amid chants of “Free Palestine” from the stands.
Coach Hossam Hassan was not satisfied with that, but he sent an emotional message to the Palestinians during a television interview, which was very popular on social media.
Coach Hossam Hassan said in an interview with beIN Sports after he congratulated the Egyptians on that victory, “I dedicate the victory to the good and honorable Palestinian people. My heart and soul are with the Palestinians. I thank them very much for their joy for us. May God grant them victory and have mercy on their martyrs.”
These positions of coach Hossam Hassan were widely praised by the Egyptian and Arab fans, but on the other hand, European and Israeli newspapers criticized them, claiming that the coach “mixes politics and sports.”
FIFA resolves the controversy
But FIFA ignored these criticisms, and confirmed in a statement that the Palestinian flag is one of the flags allowed to be raised during the World Cup, as it is a member state of FIFA.
FIFA told the Arabic “Associated Press” agency: “It is allowed to raise the flag of Palestine and any of the 211 member states of the International Federation of Association Football in accordance with stadium regulations and codes of conduct,” and did not indicate that any action was being taken against coach Hossam Hassan.
Egypt and Argentina match
Coach Hossam Hassan and the Egyptian national team are preparing for a heavy-caliber confrontation against defending champion Argentina, in the round of 16 of the World Cup.
This awaited match is scheduled to be held next Tuesday at Atlanta Stadium at 19:00 Mecca, Doha and Cairo time.
This is the second match in history between the two teams who had previously met only once at the senior team level, in a friendly match that took place on March 26, 2008 at Cairo International Stadium, and ended with Argentina winning 2-0, scored by Sergio Aguero and Nicholas Burdisso.
