Egypt coach Hossam Hassan faces the fans with the Israeli flag at the World Cup
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After watching his team end the biggest slump in World Cup history, Egypt coach Hossam Hassan made things worse.
Egypt were 2-0 up but conceded three goals in the final 20 minutes against Argentina to crash out of the Round of 16 in painful fashion.
While leaving the field, Hassan, who has publicly supported Palestine throughout the World Cup, was seen to see two Argentine fans carrying the Israeli flag.
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Hossam Hassan, Head Coach of Egypt, reacts after losing 3-2 in the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 match between Argentina and Egypt at Atlanta Stadium on July 7, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Budda Mendes/Getty Images)
Hassan and another coach appeared to be angry with the fans, pointing at them on the field and seeming to be spitting towards them. Hassan then confronted the cameraman capturing the moment, while another coach appeared to drop an F-bomb at the fans.
After Egypt's victory over Australia in the Round of 32 at the weekend, Hassan raised the Palestinian flag on the pitch. After their penalty shootout victory, Hassan said he was dedicating Egypt's victory to the “good and honorable” people of Egypt and Palestine.
“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 the martyrs.”
“If there's anyone in the world who doesn't feel for the Palestinian people, they're not human,” Hassan said earlier this week.
Hossam Hassan (Egypt) during the 16th FIFA World Cup 2026, Argentina vs Egypt, Atlanta Stadium, Atlanta, United States on July 7, 2026. (Ulrik Pedersen/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
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Video of last month's Iran-New Zealand World Cup match at SoFi Stadium outside Los Angeles appeared to show an Israeli man being stripped of his flag, while neighboring Palestinian flags were able to remain in the stands. A man with an Israeli flag told Fox News Digital after the incident that he was also told by security 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 don't have a problem with their flags, they only care about ours,” he said, quoting two lines. “They had no marching orders to pick up their flag, or anyone else's flag. It was very embarrassing…
“They said they don't have a problem with their flags, they just have a problem with ours,” he added. “They had no marching orders to pick up their flag, or anyone else's flag. It was really embarrassing.”
Hossam Hassan, head coach of Egypt, reacts during the FIFA World Cup 2026 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 must use flags only in a “joyful and friendly manner.” FIFA also prohibits “materials” that are “political…in nature.” However, the Associated Press notes that FIFA has said it is allowed to display the Palestinian flag at the World Cup.
OutKick's Jon Root contributed to this report.
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