Every footballer, coach, and staff member who traveled with Egypt to the 2026 World Cup will drive home in a new vehicle, courtesy of Emirati businessman Khalaf Ahmad Al Habtoor.
A spokesperson for the Al Habtoor Group told The National that 59 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross SUVs are being prepared for shipment and delivery to the recipients. The count covers the full national-team contingent, extending past the players to the coaching bench, administrative personnel, and medical staff.
The businessman’s company arranged the gift directly with the Egyptian Football Association. Al Habtoor, who founded and chairs the group, made a point of including everyone who supported the squad rather than the athletes alone, saying he views collective effort as the source of any achievement. “You have proven that faith, working with team spirit, and fighting until the final whistle are values that create achievements,” he said.
Egypt’s players earned the recognition by reaching the World Cup’s round of 16 for the first time. The Pharaohs pushed reigning champions Argentina to the brink at Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium on July 7, opening a two-goal cushion through Yasser Ibrahim and Mostafa Ziko before Cristian Romero, Lionel Messi, and Enzo Fernandez struck in the closing minutes to complete a 3-2 turnaround.
Announcing the gesture on X, Al Habtoor framed the achievement in regional terms. “Egypt’s joy today is the joy of every Arab,” he wrote, adding that the gift was “an expression of our love and appreciation for Egypt’s heroes who have honoured their country, delighted their fans, and given every Arab a lesson in determination, perseverance, and fighting spirit.”
The tribute from Al Habtoor followed public praise from Egyptian and Emirati leaders. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi conferred the Order of Merit on the players and staff. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, also saluted the team on X. “Egypt’s Pharaohs fought against the world champion until the very last minute,” he wrote. “We are proud of their Egyptian spirit and we thank them and the world thanks them.”
When the squad landed back in Egypt on Friday, supporters lined the streets in the thousands. The players rode an open double-decker bus through the crowds, waving as fans chanted their names and raised national flags.
