Egypt’s national team coach Hossam Hassan struck a defiant tone following his side's 2-1 friendly defeat to Brazil in their final warm-up for the 2026 World Cup at Cleveland’s Huntington Bank Field on Sunday.

Despite the narrow loss, the former legendary striker made it clear that his long-term ambitions for the Pharaohs remain unshaken.

Addressing the media, Hassan dismissed any suggestion that the result would dampen the team's spirit, emphasizing that his competitive nature is ingrained.

"My genes do not accept defeat. Imagine you are playing a team like Brazil and you do not accept losing at the same time. But my ambitions for this team are much bigger than just a single result," Hassan stated during the post-match press conference on Sunday.

With the World Cup looming just days away, Hassan defended his squad selections, which have been a topic of debate among fans and pundits, reiterating that every decision is made with precision and based on clear technical and behavioral criteria, not coincidence or external pressure.

"Based on my 20 years of coaching experience, I choose the right player for the right place," he explained. "I’ve stressed that while the Egyptian Premier League has good players, playing internationally requires a different level of standard. You must be able to bear the responsibility."

Building for the future

Looking ahead, the 59-year-old tactician highlighted several positives from the match, singling out young winger Mostafa Ziko and goalkeeper Mostafa Shobeir for praise, describing Shobeir as "the future of Egyptian football" and confirmed that the team is being built with an eye on long-term success.

"I am building the national team of the future," Hassan declared. "Shobeir is a distinguished goalkeeper with a great future. I was convinced of his abilities even when he was away from regular participation with his club. Ziko is one of the gains of the match, but we expect more from him."

Hassan also praised the performance of winger Moustafa Zico, noting that he is one of the "gains" from the friendly.

"I expect the best from him, and I am working on pushing him further," he added.

Regarding the inclusion of younger talents like Hamza Abdel Karim, the coach mentioned that the strategy is to gradually expose them to the intensity and pressure of international football.

Addressing the team’s fitness, Hassan confirmed that captain Mohamed Salah is in top condition after completing his rehabilitation program with Liverpool and the national team.

Looking ahead to the World Cup, where Egypt has been drawn in a challenging group alongside Belgium, Iran, and New Zealand, Hassan struck a confident note despite the defeat.

"We study every detail concerning our opponents; there is no room for coincidence.

“The group is not easy, but we have prepared ourselves well. We are working with all our might to present a performance that makes the nation proud," Hassan added.

The Pharaohs will kick off their World Cup campaign against Belgium on 15 June.