Egypt's historic qualification for the FIFA World Cup round of 16 has ignited a wave of pride among the Egyptian American community, setting the stage for a highly anticipated match against Argentina on July 7 in Atlanta. The Pharaohs, led by coach Hossam Hassan and captain Mo Salah, secured their place after a dramatic penalty shootout victory over Australia on July 3, following a 1-1 draw after extra time.
Watch Parties Across the United States
The close-call victory has energized Egypt's large expatriate population in the US, with watch parties held nationwide. In the Chicago suburb of Bolingbrook, Egyptian American Mayor Mary Alexander-Basta led a gathering of over 50 guests to cheer on the team. “Egypt’s World Cup achievement in entering the round 16 is very exciting. They had a very close call during the game. They barely got it in overtime. But they won. This is their fourth game and now they are moving on to face off against Argentina,” Alexander-Basta told Arab News.
A Historic Achievement
Egypt's journey to the knockout stage included a draw with Belgium, a win over New Zealand, and a draw with Iran in Group G. “It’s a proud moment for all Egyptians. We’ve made history already. Getting this far is historic for the Egyptian team,” Alexander-Basta added. The penalty shootout victory was particularly tense: “It was a tough game because we had to go down to penalty kicks. So, it was exciting. The room was full of energy. Everyone was cheering.”
Community Spirit and Future Plans
The watch party drew a diverse crowd, including Egyptian Americans, Italian Americans, Jordanians, and visitors from other states. Alexander-Basta noted, “We had Egyptian Americans. We had American Americans. We had Italian Americans … we had Jordanians. One Egyptian lives in Bolingbrook. She’s actually married to a Jordanian. We had Egyptians that came in from another state that were visiting, and they joined us.” While the Tuesday match timing prevents another watch party, Alexander-Basta said, “We are excited to see them go all the way and we will plan another watch party if they progress. The excitement is thrilling for everyone who is Egyptian.”
Dual Support for Egypt and the US
Attendees also expressed strong support for the US team, which is performing well in the tournament. “The US is performing phenomenally as well and we are excited for them, too, and also cheering them on,” Alexander-Basta said. She envisioned a dream scenario: “It would be great if Egypt and the US competed in the final of the World Cup. We would be cheering for them both. As Egyptian Americans, we would be proud to see either of them win. We would be winners regardless of who might win that dream match.”
Upcoming Matches
Egypt will face Argentina on July 7 in Atlanta. The winner will play either Switzerland or Colombia in Kansas City on July 11. The FIFA World Cup final is scheduled for July 19.
