Egypt national team head coach Hossam Hassan made the tough call to omit injured Manchester City winger Omar Marmoush from 2026 World Cup qualifiers.

Manchester City winger Omar Marmoush has been left out of Egypt’s 24-man squad for the final rounds of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers after sustaining a knee injury during the Pharaohs’ clash against Burkina Faso on 9 September. 

The 26-year-old attacker, one of Egypt’s brightest exports to Europe, has been sidelined since that game, leaving head coach Hossam Hassan without one of his key attacking weapons.

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The Egyptian Football Association (EFA) confirmed that Marmoush’s injury was serious enough to rule him out of both international and club duties for an extended period. 

Initial scans carried out in Cairo revealed ligament strain in his right knee, forcing Manchester City to recall the player for a more detailed assessment and a structured rehabilitation plan.

 The Premier League champions later released a statement confirming that Marmoush would also miss the highly anticipated Manchester derby, emphasizing that the club’s medical staff would not rush his recovery.

Head coach Hossam Hassan announced his 24-man squad earlier this week, and Marmoush’s absence was the most notable change. 

In his place, Pyramids FC winger Mostafa Fathy has been called up as the only new addition to the squad that faced Burkina Faso in September. 

Football director Ibrahim Hassan added further clarity, revealing that several other key players, including Emam Ashour (Ahly), Mohamed Abdelmonem (Nice), Nabil Emad ‘Donga’, Mohamed Shehata (Zamalek), Salah Mohsen (Masry), and Mahmoud Zalaka (Pyramids FC), have also been ruled out through injuries. Despite these setbacks, the Pharaohs’ camp remains optimistic about completing their qualification mission successfully.

With Marmoush still in recovery, the Egyptian national team faces the challenge of adjusting their attacking dynamics without one of their most in-form forwards.

Egypt currently sit comfortably atop Group A with 20 points, maintaining a five-point lead over second-placed Burkina Faso. 

The Pharaohs will travel to Morocco to face Djibouti on 8 October before returning home to host Guinea-Bissau at Cairo International Stadium on 12 October.

They require just a single point from these two matches to confirm their place at the 2026 World Cup finals, a feat that would extend their remarkable run under Hossam Hassan’s new leadership.

Since making his senior international debut in 2021, Marmoush has become a pivotal figure for Egypt, renowned for his pace, movement, and ability to unlock defences. 

His performances for Manchester City this season had further cemented his status as one of Africa’s top forwards. 

His absence leaves a noticeable gap in Egypt’s attacking setup, putting more responsibility on Mohamed Salah and Trezeguet to deliver in the decisive qualifiers.

Goalkeepers: Mohamed El Shenawy (Ahly), Mostafa Shobeir (Ahly), Mohamed Sobhy (Zamalek), Abdelaziz El-Balouti (NBE Club).

Defenders: Rami Rabia (Al-Ain – UAE), Yasser Ibrahim (Ahly) Mohamed Hany (Ahly), Khaled Sobhi (Masry), Amr El Gazar (NBE Club), Hossam Abdelmaguid (Zamalek), Ahmed Eid (Masry), Mohamed Hamdy (Pyramids FC), Ahmed Nabil Koka (Ahly).

Midfielders: Hamdy Fathy (Al Wakrah – Qatar), Mostafa Fathy (Pyramids FC), Marwan Attia (Ahly), Mahmoud Saber (Zed FC), Mohanad Lasheen (Pyramids FC), Ahmed ‘Zizo’ Sayed (Ahly), Mahmoud Trezeguet (Ahly), Mohamed Salah (Liverpool – England), Ibrahim Adel (Al Jazeera – UAE).

Strikers: Mostafa Mohamed (Nantes – France), Osama Faisal (NBE Club