Strategic Assessment

Soccer is the most popular sport in Egypt and draws tens of millions of fans. Over the years the various Egyptian regimes have understood the game’s enormous attraction, and tried to exploit it for their political needs. This article analyzes the dual attitude of the regime of President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi to the historic participation of the Egyptian national team in the World Cup in Russia, and the emergence of its forward Mohamed Salah as a global soccer superstar. On the one hand, the unprecedented interest aroused in Egypt by the national team and Salah provides the Egyptian President with an effective lever to strengthen his public status, particularly among the younger generation; on the other hand, both the role played by soccer in the arena of political protest since the 2011 revolution and the emergence of a popular national hero like Salah challenge his regime.