Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
Egypt’s national football team will face two high-caliber opponents during the March international break, taking on Saudi Arabia and Spain in a pair of friendly matches to be held in Qatar, the Egyptian Football Association (EFA) confirmed on Monday.
The Pharaohs will first meet Saudi Arabia on March 26, before concluding their Qatar camp with a highly anticipated clash against European giants Spain on March 30. The Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) announced that the match against Egypt will be played at the Ahmed bin Ali Stadium, with kickoff scheduled for 6:00 p.m. Spain time (GMT+1).
The encounter with Spain will mark only the second meeting between the two nations. Their sole previous clash dates back to 2006, when Spain secured a 2–0 victory over Egypt in a friendly match at the Martínez Valero Stadium in Elche, with goals scored by Raúl González and José Antonio Reyes.
The upcoming fixtures form part of Egypt’s broader preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be hosted jointly by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Egypt have been drawn into Group G alongside Belgium, Iran, and New Zealand, a competitive group that places a premium on tactical readiness and squad depth.
Spain, meanwhile, are using the same international window to fine-tune their preparations, as they are scheduled to face Argentina in another marquee friendly during the period. La Roja were drawn into Group H of the World Cup qualifiers, where they will compete against Cape Verde, Saudi Arabia, and Uruguay.
For Egypt, the March friendlies offer an important opportunity to test themselves against contrasting footballing styles. Saudi Arabia provide regional familiarity and physical intensity, while Spain present a technical and tactical benchmark against one of Europe’s most accomplished sides.
The Pharaohs enter the international break with confidence after a strong showing at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, where they reached the semifinals. The performance reinforced Egypt’s status as one of Africa’s leading football nations and raised expectations ahead of the World Cup qualifiers.
Coaching staff are expected to use the Qatar camp to assess player form, experiment with tactical variations, and integrate new faces into the squad. With World Cup qualification and continental ambitions in sight, the matches against Saudi Arabia and Spain are seen as key steps in Egypt’s preparation for the challenges ahead.
