Islam Issa has suffered an ACL tear in his left knee, effectively ending his season and ruling him out of Egypt’s 2026 World Cup squad.
Egypt winger Islam Issa has suffered a tear of the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee. The injury rules him out for the rest of the season with Ceramica Cleopatra and ends his chances of playing at the 2026 World Cup in June. Scans confirmed the diagnosis after Issa returned with the national team from Spain on Thursday morning.
Issa went straight for imaging after arriving in Cairo. Team doctor Mohamed Abou El-Ela had initially said the player suffered a knee sprain during Egypt’s 0-0 draw with Spain and needed further assessment.
The Ceramica Cleopatra winger started both of Egypt’s March friendlies, against Saudi Arabia and Spain, during the team’s final preparation camp before the World Cup. He scored the opener in Egypt’s 4-0 win over Saudi Arabia and then started again in Tuesday’s draw with Spain before leaving injured in the second half.
The injury leaves Egypt without a player who gives the national team much needed depth up front and forces Ceramica Cleopatra to plan for the rest of the domestic campaign without him.