Egypt coach urges global solidarity with Palestinians ahead of World Cup clash
Support for Gaza dominates pre-match press conference as Egypt's coach calls Palestinian suffering “a shame on the entire world”
ATLANTA, United States (MNTV) – Egypt head coach Hossam Hassan used a FIFA World Cup pre-match press conference to call for greater international solidarity with Palestinians, describing the humanitarian crisis in Gaza as “a shame on the entire world.”
He urged athletes, journalists and the international community to use their platforms to speak out against the suffering of Palestinians.
Speaking ahead of Egypt’s Round of 16 match against defending champions Argentina, Hassan shifted attention away from football to address Israel’s ongoing military campaign in Gaza.
He said anyone who fails to empathize with the Palestinian people “is not human,” regardless of nationality or religion, and called on the global sporting community to use its influence in support of civilians affected by the conflict.
Hassan urged footballers, journalists and public figures to use the sport’s global reach as a form of “soft power” to amplify calls for Palestinians to live in peace and dignity, saying the international community should not remain silent while civilians continue to suffer.
His remarks drew applause from many journalists attending the news conference.
The Egyptian coach had already attracted worldwide attention after his team’s dramatic penalty-shootout victory over Australia in the previous round, when he celebrated by carrying a Palestinian flag onto the pitch and dedicated Egypt’s historic knockout triumph to the Palestinian people.
The gesture quickly spread across social media and became one of the tournament’s most discussed moments.
Hassan’s comments have again placed the Palestinian cause at the center of global sporting attention as Egypt continues its World Cup campaign, highlighting the growing willingness of some athletes and coaches to use major international sporting events to draw attention to humanitarian issues beyond the field of play.
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