The vicinity of the New Alamein Airport turned into a vast celebration square on Friday as thousands flocked to welcome the Egyptian national team delegation upon their return from their 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, a match in which the 'Pharaohs' received widespread praise for the strong performance they delivered against the world champions.

The areas surrounding the airport filled with fans from the early morning hours, waving Egyptian flags and chanting national songs, expressing pride in the team's achievement during the tournament, after successfully reaching the round of 16 for the first time in its history, delivering impressive performances that brought the Egyptian national team back to the forefront of world football.

Alamein Airport witnessed the preparation of an open-top bus specially to transport the national team players through the crowds, an exceptional celebratory scene reflecting the magnitude of public appreciation for what the players and coaching staff achieved throughout the tournament, while fans made sure to raise pictures of the players and coaching staff.

The delegation's reception was attended by several ministers and senior officials, led by Minister of Health Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, Minister of Sports Gawhar Nabil, and Minister of Civil Aviation 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 reception comes hours before Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi receives the national team players, coaching staff, and administrative staff on Saturday, as announced by the official spokesperson of the Presidency, in a meeting expected to include honoring the team in recognition of their performance during their historic World Cup participation.

Historic Achievement

Despite the journey ending against Argentina, Egyptian fans considered that the team achieved an unprecedented accomplishment, having competed with top world 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 Alamein Airport to welcome the team, said he arrived at the airport in the early hours of the morning, despite the distance, because he felt it was his duty to send a message of thanks to the players for what they had done throughout the tournament.

He told Sky News Arabia: 'I came early in the morning because these players deserve all the appreciation. True, we exited 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 at any point.'

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 rather a national team that restored our confidence and hope, and proved that Egyptian football is capable of achieving greater accomplishments 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 participate in the reception, emphasizing 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. What I liked most was the fighting spirit and determination until the end; I never felt in any match that the players lost hope or gave up against 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 whole nation stands behind them and appreciates their effort.' She stressed that reaching the round of 16 is a historic achievement that will remain etched in the memory of fans, and said, '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 them competing regularly in the biggest international tournaments.'

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