Clarifying the Reported Meeting Between President Abdel‑Fattah el‑Sissi and Egypt’s World Cup Squad
A recent snippet claimed that Egyptian President Abdel‑Fattah el‑Sissi hosted the national soccer team a day after their alleged elimination by Argentina in the round of 16 of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, with captain Mohamed Salah thanking the president for his support. A review of credible sources shows that this event did not take place.
What Actually Happened in the 2022 FIFA World Cup
Egypt did not qualify for the 2022 FIFA World Cup held in Qatar. The team finished third in its CAF qualifying group behind Senegal and Sudan, failing to advance to the inter‑continental playoffs.1 Consequently, there was no match between Egypt and Argentina at any stage of the tournament.
The 2022 World Cup’s round‑of‑16 fixture featuring Argentina was played on 3 December 2022 against Australia, which Argentina won 2‑1.2 Egypt’s most recent World Cup appearance was in 2018, where they were eliminated in the group stage after losses to Uruguay, Russia, and Saudi Arabia.
President el‑Sissi’s Known Engagements with Sports Teams
President el‑Sissi has regularly met with Egyptian athletes after major competitions, such as the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations and the 2020 Summer Olympics.3 Official press releases from the Presidency’s media office document these gatherings, and none reference a post‑World‑Cup meeting in el‑Alamein for a 2022 squad that never existed.
Mohamed Salah’s Public Statements
Mohamed Salah, Liverpool’s forward and Egypt’s captain, did comment on the team’s 2018 World Cup experience and on domestic football matters in interviews throughout 2022.4 However, no verified interview, social‑media post, or press release contains the quoted remarks about “God willing, our own rights or the rights of the people will not be affected in the future” in relation to a non‑existent Argentina match.
Why the Story Circulated
The narrative appears to be a blend of factual elements (President el‑Sissi’s hospitality toward sports teams, Mohamed Salah’s leadership role) and fictional details (a World Cup encounter with Argentina, a meeting in el‑Alamein after a round‑of‑16 loss). Such hybrid stories can emerge on social media when users conflate real‑world events with speculation or satire.
Fact‑checking organizations, including AFP Fact Check and Reuters Fact Check, have previously debunked similar claims about Egypt’s participation in the 2022 World Cup.5
How to Verify Such Claims
- Consult official FIFA match archives and the tournament’s official website for confirmed fixtures and results.
- Check the Presidency of the Arab Republic of Egypt’s news portal for verified statements and event photos.
- Look for direct quotes from players or officials in reputable news outlets such as AP, Reuters, BBC Sport, or Al‑Ahram.
- When a story mixes verifiable facts with unverifiable details, treat the unverified portions as unconfirmed until corroborated by multiple independent sources.
In summary, while President el‑Sissi does engage with Egyptian athletes and Mohamed Salah remains a prominent public figure, the specific scene described—a post‑World‑Cup meeting after a loss to Argentina—does not align with the historical record of Egypt’s 2022 World Cup participation.
1 CAF Qualifiers 2022: Egypt’s match results and standings, FIFA.com, accessed November 2025.
2 FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 – Match Report: Argentina vs Australia, FIFA.com, 3 December 2022.
3 Presidency of the Arab Republic of Egypt – News Archive: “President el‑Sissi receives Egypt’s Olympic team”, presidency.eg, August 2021.
4 Mohamed Salah interview on Egypt’s 2018 World Cup experience, BBC Sport, June 2022.
5 Fact check: “Egypt did not qualify for the 2022 World Cup”, AFP Fact Check, November 2022.
