Egypt’s rising star Hamza Abdel Kareem set for World Cup breakthrough after Barcelona rise
From U-17 sensation in Qatar to Barcelona youth standout, the 18-year-old forward steps onto football’s biggest stage alongside Mohamed Salah in a historic Egyptian squad.
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The career of young Egyptian forward Hamza Abdel Kareem, 18, has witnessed an exceptional rise following his standout performance at the Under-17 World Cup in Qatar 2025, as he now prepares to make his debut in the senior World Cup.
The upcoming tournament is scheduled from June 11 to July 19 across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, and features a historic participation of eight Arab teams: Qatar, Algeria, Iraq, Jordan, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, and Egypt.
Abdel Kareem plays as a center forward in Egypt’s final 26-man squad, where he joins captain and one of the most prominent stars of Arab and global football, Mohamed Salah, creating a scene that brings together two generations of Egyptian football on the global stage.
The tournament draw placed Egypt in Group G alongside Belgium, Iran, and New Zealand. Their campaign begins against Belgium on June 15 at 10:00 PM Doha time at Lumen Field Stadium in Seattle, United States.
Hamza Abdel Kareem's Journey
The young forward’s path to the senior national team began after his impressive showing at the Under-17 World Cup in Qatar 2025, a tournament that marked a turning point in his international career.
In an exclusive statement to the tournament’s organizing committee, Abdel Kareem said: “Participating in the Under-17 World Cup in Qatar was an unforgettable experience; for the first time in my life, I really felt like I was on a global stage. The intensity of the competition, the pressure, and the pride in representing my country all combined to make me a more mature and experienced player.”
His decisive goals during the tournament drew the attention of major European club scouts, paving the way for his transfer from Egypt’s Al-Ahly to Barcelona in Spain.
After joining the Spanish side, Abdel Kareem further proved his talent by scoring a hat-trick with the youth team, helping secure the Group 3 title of the Spanish youth league.
He added: “Joining Barcelona was a long-held dream, and the Under-17 World Cup in Qatar played an undeniable role in making this dream a reality. This event gave me the opportunity to showcase my skills in front of the world’s biggest clubs, proving that I can perform and handle pressure at the highest level. Competing against elite rising global talents gave me great confidence.”
The Under-17 World Cup marked a historic milestone as the first edition to feature 48 teams, with 1,008 young players competing across 104 matches throughout the tournament.
The Aspire Zone Complex hosted all matches across eight stadiums under a centralized hosting model, forming a key platform for scouts, with 130 scouts from top global clubs attending to observe emerging talents in one place.
Abdel Kareem was not the only standout star, as the tournament served as a launching pad for several rising talents. Qatar will once again host future stars by staging the Under-17 World Cup from November 19 to December 13 next year.