Egypt Coach: Team is ‘Happy' at World Cup Despite Dallas Police Issue

Egypt coach Hossam Hassan said Friday that he considered the matter resolved after he and team director Ibrahim Hassan had a physical confrontation with a police officer at the team’s hotel in Dallas a day earlier.

Video began circulating Thursday, a day before Egypt beat Australia in the round of 32 at the FIFA World Cup, showing both men arguing with a Dallas police officer, apparently over a player preparing to take a picture with a young fan in the hotel lobby.

Security around team hotels has been a recurring theme of the tournament, with delegations moving between practice facilities, official events and hotels under tight security protocols involving local police departments and private contractors hired by FIFA. Hassan’s remarks suggested Egypt’s delegation did not view the Dallas episode as reflective of the broader security arrangements they have experienced.

“I would like to point to the high-level organization we have with us and the level of security we have with us,” Hassan repeated when asked whether the team had lingering concerns.

What Happens Next

Egypt advanced to the round of 16, continuing a tournament that has drawn wide attention back home. Its opponent will be superstar Lionel Messi and Argentina, which edged upset-minded Cape Verde 3-2 in the round of 32 with a late goal in extra time. The match will be Tuesday at noon ET at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.

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This story was originally published July 3, 2026 at 9:12 PM.