Hamza Abdelkarim, an 18-year-old forward from Barcelona, received his first call-up to the Egyptian national team for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and made his debut in the match against Belgium.
The substitution took place in the 76th minute with the score tied 1-1, as head coach Hassan Hossam gave the young player an opportunity, replacing Mohamed Salah, one of Egypt’s most important players. Abdelkarim’s introduction was a notable moment for the team and its supporters.
During the game, Hamza touched the ball six times, completed two passes, won two aerial duels, and recovered one ball. He also made runs to get into space for teammates’ crosses but was unable to finish due to strong defensive positioning by Belgium. Although the final score remained unchanged, Abdelkarim’s brief appearance was viewed positively for his international debut.
Earlier, Barcelona finalized the transfer by exercising a purchase option from Al-Ahly, paying around €1.5 million plus variables. In his first season with Barça’s youth team, he scored six goals in 11 matches. This move was seen as a smart step ahead of his World Cup debut.
