Egypt's World Cup heroes gifted 59 SUVs worth $1.7 million

The historic achievement of Egypt's national football team, The Pharaohs, in reaching the Round of 16 of the 2026 World Cup continues to be celebrated with a generous gift from a prominent UAE billionaire. Khalaf Al Habtoor has pledged 59 new sports utility vehicles (SUVs) to the players and staff.

The reward, totaling nearly $1.7 million (RM6.93 million), is intended for the entire Egyptian delegation, including players, coaches, and administrative and medical staff. It serves as a token of appreciation for the nation's best-ever performance on the World Cup stage. A spokesperson for Al Habtoor Group confirmed that the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross vehicles are being prepared for handover through the Egyptian Football Association, with each unit valued at approximately $29,000 (RM118,314).

Al Habtoor expressed his joy, stating on X, "Egypt's happiness today is the happiness of the entire Arab world." This sentiment comes after Egypt's dramatic 2-3 loss to defending champions Argentina in the Round of 16 on July 7. Egypt had led 2-0 late in the match before Lionel Messi inspired a comeback with three goals in 13 minutes.

Al Habtoor emphasized that the gift is for the entire contingent, recognizing that a team's success relies on everyone behind the scenes. The Pharaohs' fighting spirit was also acknowledged by the Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who praised their strong performance against the world champions. Egypt made history in the 2026 World Cup by reaching the knockout stage for the first time, with a journey that included draws against Belgium and Iran, a group stage win over New Zealand, and a penalty shootout victory against Australia before their elimination by Argentina. Upon their return on July 10, the team received a celebratory open-bus parade in El Alamein, and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi awarded the Order of Merit to each member of the contingent.

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Egypt's happiness today is the happiness of the entire Arab world.