For Egypt, a historic match in Atlanta, despite a 3-2 loss

The mood was jubilant outside Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Tuesday morning as supporters of the Egyptian team—set to play powerhouse Argentina in the World Cup—beat large drums, chanted songs in Arabic, and waved Egyptian and Palestinian flags. Even before the game began at noon, the Egyptian team had made history: This was the furthest they’d ever gotten in the tournament.

The red-shirted fans matched the team’s intensity—some had even taken out small loans to buy tickets to see the game. Others outside the stadium waved what appeared to be fiery road flares that created plumes of reddish smoke—until police gently directed the fans to put them out. 

Karen, who lives in Buckhead with her sister, said it felt “amazing” to be there. Even though they didn’t have tickets, they wanted to come out and show their love for the Egyptian team, because “there’s not a lot of us here.” Karen’s sister was feeling “very proud,” she said. “I always knew we’d make it this far, we just needed the opportunity.”

Georgia is home to around 5,000 Egyptians, a smallish community that’s part of a much larger one: There are around 80,000 Arab Americans in the state, more than half of whom live in the Atlanta area, according to Arab American Institute. 

But people flew in from all over to see the team.

A couple from Long Island had arrived at Hartsfield-Jackson airport from New York just a few hours before the match, and were planning on going home the same day—after the game. The tickets “were a lot,” said the husband, who’d taken out a small loan and canceled a trip to pay for them, but it was “100 percent worth it.” He smiled, seeing the excitement around him, the smoke wafting through the air: “We had two revolutions back home, so ever since then, I feel like fireworks are a good thing, a lot of energy, a lot of positivity.”

Another reveler was an 80-year-old Chattahoochee Hills resident who walked up to the Benz with his son, who wore a red T-shirt with “Palestine” written on it. The older man, a Nakba survivor, was forced to leave Palestine when he was two years old. He fled to Jordan, then Kuwait, before settling in the U.S. in 1972. He still has family in Gaza, he said, though 23 of his relatives have been killed there. He’s been sending money to support the rest. A win for Egypt, he said, would be a win for Palestine.

“It’s a dream,” he said, to be at the match. 

Last Friday, after his team beat Australia in Dallas, the manager of the Egyptian team, Hossam Hassan, walked out onto the pitch with a Palestinian flag as people in the crowd chanted “Free Palestine, Free Palestine.” “My heart and soul are with them,” Hassan said later in an interview. “I dedicate this victory to the Palestinians.” Seeing the Palestine flag waved at the matches, the 80-year-old Chattahoochee Hills resident said he felt “overwhelmed.”

There have been eight Arab teams competing in this World Cup, the most ever. Solidarity with Palestine—a FIFA member since 1998—has been consistent at these matches and at others. Several fans milling around Centennial Park clad in Colombian jerseys—presumably there to watch the country play Switzerland later in the day—wore keffiyahs; a handful of Argentinian fans also had the black-and-white scarves draped over their necks, despite the muggy Atlanta heat.

The Palestine team didn’t qualify for the World Cup after it lost a match against Oman in June of 2025. Athletes there are under unprecedented circumstances; Since October 2023, Israeli strikes have killed hundreds of Palestinian athletes, and there hasn’t been any domestic soccer in  Gaza or the West Bank since Israel’s assault on the territories began. Just last week, an Israeli strike killed Palestinian goalkeeper Saleem al-Ashqar. 

Maurice Hanna, an Egyptian American resident of Buford, sat on the turf inside the FIFA Fan Festival across the street from the stadium. He’d gone to Dallas a few days before to see Egypt beat Australia. “The whole trip cost me like $3,300,” said Maurice, who owns a car dealership. He and his wife, who sat beside him, were happy to watch the game on the jumbotron this time. He was in the middle of speaking to 285 South about his life in Buford when Egypt scored its first goal. He sprang up, cheering alongside fellow fans. 

In the second half, Egypt doubled their lead and their dreams of reaching the quarter final seemed like they would become reality. But things quickly took a turn. In a 15 minute spell, Argentina scored three goals, breaking the hearts of Egypt’s fans.

“It was a gut punch,” said Belal Betraway, an Egyptian American and Smyrna resident who brought his two young kids to watch the match at the Benz. “Argentina fans are known to be a little bit saucy, so they were definitely rubbing it in,” he said, after the game turned in their favor. There was, though, “some good sportsmanship among the crowd,” which, he said, was made up of mostly Argentina fans.  “It was a wild rollercoaster ride. The ups and downs of it all, and I think we were all pretty surprised by some of the calls. But all the same, credit to Argentina for winning.” 

When he got home, he took a nap, exhausted from the adrenaline rush, his wife told 285 South.