Egypt ended its preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup with a friendly victory over Russia 1-0 at Cairo International Stadium on Thursday, in the last match on Egyptian soil before the tournament.
Substitute Mustafa Zico scored the only goal of the match in the 65th minute with a header from close range after a perfect cross from Mohamed Hani. The goal capped a calm performance by Hossam Hassan’s team, which controlled long periods of the match and maintained its defensive cohesion in the final minutes.
The win gives Egypt a timely boost of confidence two weeks before their opening World Cup group stage match against Belgium on June 15 in Seattle. The Pharaohs were drawn in the seventh group alongside Belgium, Iran and New Zealand.
Hassan made only minor adjustments to his usual starting lineup, with Mohamed Abdel Moneim returning after a long injury, while Ahmed Sayed “Zizou” participated instead of Mohamed Salah.
Egypt started the match strongly, pressing Russia high and creating early chances. Imam Ashour shot a ball wide of the goal from inside the area in the third minute, while Mahmoud Hassan “Trezeguet” blocked a shot after a decisive pass from Omar Marmoush on the edge of the penalty area.
Marmoush, one of Egypt’s main attacking outlets, remained lively throughout the first half. Around the 17th minute, he unleashed a sharp solo shot before sending a low shot wide of the target.
Russia gradually got better in the game, with Ivan Oblyakov forcing Egypt’s defense into action after his shot from outside the area was blocked and deflected back for a corner kick. Maxim Gluchenkov also posed a threat on the counter-attack, but Egypt’s back line led by Abdel Moneim and Yasser Ibrahim remained organised.
As the match was the team’s final assessment before the World Cup, Hassan made several changes before half-time. Haysem Hassan, Ibrahim Adel and Mustafa Zico were introduced in place of Emam Ashour, Trezeguet and Zizo, giving Egypt new energy in attack but there was no breakthrough before the end of the first half.
The rotation continued after the start of the second half, with Mohamed El-Shenawy replacing Mostafa Shabir in goalkeeping, and Ramy Rabia replacing Abdel Moneim. Both teams benefited from the expanded substitution allowance in the friendly match, although the substitutions made by Russia after the hour mark seemed to disrupt their rhythm.
Egypt quickly benefited. In the 65th minute, Mohamed Hani found space on the right side and sent a perfect cross into the area. Zico rose well and directed a powerful header past Russian goalkeeper Stanislav Agkatsev to put Egypt ahead.
Marmoush almost doubled the score moments later before he was withdrawn in the 72nd minute, as Hassan Nabil included Imad “Dunga” in the wider rotation in the squad.
Russia took the lead late in search of an equalizer, as coach Valery Karpin introduced new attacking options in the last 20 minutes. Anton Miranchuk tested El-Shenawy with a well-kicked free-kick, while Gluchenkov remained dangerous on the break, but Egypt’s defense maintained its form to keep the clean sheet.
The win carried extra symbolic weight for Egypt, as it came eight years after Russia beat the Pharaohs 3-1 in their 2018 World Cup Group A tie.
Egypt now travels to the United States to play its last friendly match before the World Cup against Brazil on June 6 in Cleveland, Ohio, before starting its World Cup campaign against Belgium nine days later.