Hamza Abdelkarim, an 18-year-old forward at Barcelona, made history by becoming the youngest player to represent Egypt at a FIFA World Cup. He made his debut in the opening match of the 2026 tournament against Belgium, coming on in the 75th minute with the score tied at 1-1.
Born in Egypt, Abdelkarim joined Barcelona in January 2026 on loan from Al Ahly. Shortly after, Barcelona activated their purchase option worth €1.5 million, securing him on a permanent deal. He is considered one of the promising young forwards within the club’s setup.
His debut age — 18 years and 5 months — surpassed the previous record held by Mostafa Kamel Mansour, who played in the 1934 World Cup at 19 years and 9 months old.
The Egyptian coaching staff showed trust by playing him in a crucial match against Belgium. Notably, Abdelkarim substituted in for Egyptian star Mohamed Salah.
At Barcelona, his progress has caught the attention of first-team manager Hansi Flick, who is expected to monitor his development closely. There is also a chance that Abdelkarim could be involved in first-team preseason preparations ahead of the 2026/27 season, marking an important step in his career development.
