Egypt’s national football team, the Pharaohs, are facing the shocking possibility of being excluded from the 2026 FIFA World Cup due to an unpaid fine.
The Egyptian Football Association (EFA) is under pressure as a looming FIFA sanction threatens to bar them from the tournament if the financial dispute isn’t resolved.
According to Swiss publication Blick, the issue stems from a contract dispute between the EFA and a Swiss company that handles the organization of international matches.
On December 5, 2023, FIFA’s tribunal ruled in favor of the Swiss company, ordering the EFA to pay a fine for breach of contract. Despite the ruling, the EFA has failed to settle the debt, leading to further sanctions.
FIFA’s disciplinary committee imposed additional penalties in February 2024, giving the EFA 30 days to comply.
By August, after still not paying the penalties, FIFA issued another fine and a final warning, granting the Egyptian Football Association one last 30-day extension to resolve the matter.
If the EFA fails to pay, the consequences could be severe, including Egypt’s exclusion from the World Cup 2026 qualifiers.
This would be a significant blow to Egyptian football, especially since the national team currently leads their qualification group with 10 points from four matches.
The threat of missing out on the World Cup would definitely cause widespread concern among Egyptian football fans, as FIFA’s final decision looms.
With the future of Egypt’s participation hanging in the balance, it remains to be seen whether the EFA will settle the debt in time to avoid these catastrophic consequences.