The area around the new El Alamein Airport turned into a vast celebration square on Friday as thousands flocked to welcome the Egyptian national team delegation following their return from a historic participation in the 2026 World Cup.

Egypt's journey in the round of 16 of the World Cup ended with a 2-3 loss to Argentina, in a match where 'The Pharaohs' received widespread praise for the strong performance the team delivered against the world champions.

The areas surrounding the airport have been filled since the early morning hours with fans who raised Egyptian flags and chanted patriotic slogans and songs, expressing their pride in what the team achieved during the tournament, after succeeding for the first time in its history in reaching the round of 16, delivering remarkable performances that brought the Egyptian national team back to the forefront of world football.

El Alamein Airport saw the preparation of a special open-top bus to transport the national team players through the crowds, in an exceptional celebratory scene that reflected the level of public appreciation for what the players and coaching staff delivered throughout the tournament, while fans made sure to hold up pictures of the players and coaching staff.

Several ministers and senior officials took part in welcoming the delegation, led by Health Minister Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, Sports Minister Gohar Nabil, and Civil Aviation Minister Sameh El-Hefny, along with a number of public figures, political leaders, and members of the House of Representatives and the Senate.

This popular and official welcome comes hours before Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi receives the national team players, coaching and administrative staff on Saturday, as announced by the official spokesman of the presidency, in a meeting expected to honor the team in recognition of their achievements during their historic World Cup participation.

Historic Achievement

Despite the journey ending against Argentina, Egyptian fans considered that the team achieved an unprecedented feat, having competed with top international teams and delivered matches characterized by fighting spirit and tactical discipline, earning widespread praise inside and outside Egypt.

Ahmed Mustafa, one of the fans who came to El Alamein Airport to welcome the team, said he arrived at the airport in the early morning hours, despite the distance, because he felt it was his duty to send a message of thanks to the players for what they did throughout the tournament.

He added to Sky News Arabia: 'I came early in the morning because these players deserve all the appreciation. True, we are out of the tournament, but the way the team played made us all feel proud. We saw a team that fought until the last minute against Argentina and never gave up.'

He continued: 'For the first time we feel that the team is capable of competing with the world's top teams in this way, and my children insisted on coming with me because they now consider these players true role models. Today we are not here to welcome a losing team, but to welcome a team that restored our confidence and hope, and proved that Egyptian football is capable of achieving greater successes in the coming years if work continues with the same seriousness and determination.'

Among the crowds, Amira El-Shazly came specifically from Alexandria Governorate to take part in the welcome, stressing that what the team achieved during the World Cup deserves celebration regardless of the result of the last match.

She told Sky News Arabia: 'I made sure to travel from Alexandria because I felt that the team gave Egyptians unforgettable moments, and what impressed me most was the fighting spirit and determination until the end. I never felt in any match that the players lost hope or surrendered to the opponent.'

She added: 'We were all following the matches as if we were inside the stadium, and today we wanted the players to feel that the entire nation stands behind them and appreciates their effort,' stressing that reaching the round of 16 is a historic achievement that will remain engraved in the fans' memory, and I hope that what has been achieved is the beginning of a new phase of successes, and that the team maintains this level so we see it continuously competing in the biggest international tournaments.'

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