Spain and Egypt friendly match without VAR

The Spanish and Egyptian national teams have agreed to play their friendly match in Barcelona without the use of Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology, as part of their preparations for the 2026 World Cup. Mostafa Abou Zahra, a member of the Egyptian Football Association's board of directors and head of the national team's delegation, explained that both sides also agreed to allow an increased number of substitutions, up to eight per team, a common practice in friendly matches to give more players a chance to play. He noted that the absence of VAR in such matches is standard practice in Europe. He also praised the atmosphere within the Egyptian camp, emphasizing the discipline and focus among the players and coaching staff. Both teams enter the match with high morale, after Egypt's resounding victory over Saudi Arabia and Spain's 3-0 win against Serbia, ahead of their anticipated encounter on Tuesday evening.