Egypt

Egypt returns to the World Cup for the first time since 1990, ending a long absence from the game’s biggest stage. For fans in Cairo and across Egypt (Eastern European Time, UTC+2, no daylight saving), every Group G match on the North American West Coast falls in the early morning hours.

The Group G opener on June 15 sends Egypt to Lumen Field in Seattle to face Belgium. The 12:00 Pacific Time kickoff translates to 22:00 in Cairo on June 15. An evening match for Egyptian fans - the most favorable slot of the group stage, and one that will see watch parties fill Cairo’s coffeehouses and football clubs. The second match on June 21 at BC Place in Vancouver sees Egypt face New Zealand at 18:00 Pacific, which becomes 04:00 on June 22 in Cairo. An all-nighter. Fans serious about following the Pharaohs will set alarms for 3:30am, brew strong tea, and gather in small groups to watch. The final group match on June 26 against Iran in Seattle at 20:00 Pacific becomes 06:00 on June 27 in Cairo - a daybreak kickoff.

Egypt’s football culture runs deep. The country has seven African Cup of Nations titles and a fanbase that takes club football, particularly Cairo’s Al Ahly and Zamalek rivalry, with consuming intensity. The last time Egypt appeared at a World Cup was Italia 1990, making any 2026 match a generational moment for fans who have watched the Pharaohs come close without qualifying for over three decades.

The alarm will be set regardless.