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After watching his team complete one of the biggest collapses in World Cup history, Egypt coach Hossam Hassan only made things worse.
Egypt was up 2-0 but allowed three goals in the final 20 minutes against Argentina to be eliminated in the round of 16 in devastating fashion.
As he left the field, Hassan, who has openly supported Palestine throughout the World Cup, appeared to see two Argentine fans holding an Israeli flag.
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Egypt head coach Hossam Hassan reacts after the 3-2 loss during the 2026 FIFA World Cup Round of 16 match between Argentina and Egypt at Atlanta Stadium on July 7, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Buda Mendes/Getty Images)
Hassan and another coach appeared furious with the fans, pointing at them from the field and appearing to imitate spitting in their direction. Hassan then confronted a photographer capturing the moment, while another coach appeared to drop an F-bomb toward fans.
After Egypt’s victory over Australia in the round of 32 over the weekend, Hassan waved a Palestinian flag on the pitch. Following his penalty shootout victory, Hassan said he was dedicating Egypt’s victory to the “good and noble” Egyptian and Palestinian people.
“My heart and soul are with them,” he said after that game. “I dedicate this victory to the Palestinians. May Allah grant them victory and have mercy on their martyrs.”
“If there is anyone in the world who has no feelings for the Palestinian people, then they are not human,” Hassan added earlier this week.
Hossam Hassan (Egypt) during the 2026 FIFA World Cup Round of 16, Argentina and Egypt, Atlanta Stadium, Atlanta, United States, July 7, 2026. (Ulrik Pedersen/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
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Video from last month’s World Cup match between Iran and New Zealand at SoFi Stadium outside Los Angeles appeared to show the confiscation of a man’s Israeli flag while adjacent Palestinian flags were allowed to remain in the stands. The Israeli flag man told Pak Gazette Digital after the incident that security also told him that the “head of FIFA didn’t care” about the Palestinian flag behind him, “and they only cared about my flag in particular.”
“They said they have no problem with their flags and they only have problems with ours,” he said, citing a double standard. “They had no orders to march to take their flag, or anyone else’s. It was quite embarrassing…
“They said they have no problems with their flags and that they only have problems with ours,” he added. “They had no orders to march to take their flag, or anyone else’s. It was quite embarrassing.”
Egypt head coach Hossam Hassan reacts during the 2026 FIFA World Cup Round of 16 match between Argentina and Egypt at Atlanta Stadium on July 7, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Wu Zhizhao/VCG via Getty Images)
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FIFA rule 4.2.23 states that World Cup attendees should only use flags “in a festive and friendly manner.” FIFA also prohibits “materials” that are of a “political nature.” However, the Associated Press notes that FIFA said it is permitted to display the Palestinian flag at the World Cup.
