Is Haitham Hassan's participation with the Pharaohs legal?

The controversy surrounding the eligibility of Egyptian national team player Haitham Hassan to participate in the 2026 World Cup has been settled. Questions arose regarding the completion of procedures to change his sporting nationality and whether this would affect his eligibility to play for the Pharaohs, especially after his debut against Australia in the Round of 32. Hassan's participation attracted attention after he helped lead Egypt to the Round of 16 for the first time in its history in the 2026 World Cup, following a 4-2 penalty shootout victory over Australia. This opened the door to legal discussions about his international status, particularly since he had previously represented France at various youth levels before choosing to represent Egypt. The French-born player had also participated in several friendly matches with the Egyptian national team prior to the tournament, matches that were counted as part of the official FIFA international match calendar. Experts considered this an indication that his administrative position was sound from the outset, in terms of his registration within the national team system. Amid the escalating controversy, regulations expert Amer Al-Amayreh clarified that the player's status is entirely legal. He pointed out that his participation in previous friendly matches, which are included in the monthly international rankings, demonstrates that his paperwork was complete and approved by the relevant authorities; otherwise, the results of those matches would not have been included in the official rankings. He also noted that the player's name was included in the final squad list for the Egyptian national team participating in the World Cup, a procedure that only occurs after a thorough review by FIFA and the relevant federations to ensure compliance with all eligibility requirements. The tournament regulations stipulate that any objection regarding player eligibility must be submitted within a specific timeframe before the start of the matches, electronically through the approved legal channels, and at least five days before the team's first match in the tournament. This strictly limits the scope of appeals, and once the competition begins, it becomes impossible to submit further objections regarding player eligibility. Based on these rules, it is clear that Haitham Hassan's participation with the Egyptian national team is within the proper legal framework, especially with the completion of his registration and inclusion in the final squad. This puts an end to the controversy surrounding his status and confirms his continued participation with the team throughout the tournament. Thus, the matter is legally closed before the team enters crucial stages of the competition, and the player remains a valuable option for the coaching staff in upcoming World Cup matches.