An Emirati billionaire rewarded Egypt’s national team with new cars after their historic World Cup run.
Emirati billionaire Khalaf Ahmed Al Habtoor has gifted a brand new car to every member of Egypt’s national football team delegation, celebrating the Pharaohs’ best ever showing at a World Cup. The businessman announced the gesture on his official account on X on July 10, 2026, days after Egypt returned home from the tournament to a hero’s welcome.
Al Habtoor, founder and chairman of the Al Habtoor Group, said the gift was made in recognition of Egypt’s historic achievement at the 2026 World Cup. According to the group’s statement, it coordinated directly with the Egyptian Football Association and reached an agreement to provide a Mitsubishi car to each member of the national team delegation. The Al Habtoor Group is one of the UAE’s largest conglomerates, and its automotive arm is the official distributor of Mitsubishi vehicles in the country.
The gift followed an emotional homecoming for the squad. Millions of fans gathered to celebrate the team as it returned home, with crowds lining the streets to honour a run that lifted spirits across Egypt and the wider Arab world.
A Mitsubishi for every Pharaoh – TBH, Well-deserved!
The gesture rewarded the entire delegation, not just the star names. Every member of the travelling party, players and staff alike, was included in the agreement between the Al Habtoor Group and the Egyptian Football Association.
Al Habtoor is well known for high-profile public gestures, and his decision to reward the squad from the UAE underlined the sense of shared pride the team’s performance generated across the region. The cars, supplied through his group’s Mitsubishi distributorship, marked the run with a lasting reward for those who delivered it.
Egypt’s best World Cup campaign ever
Egypt produced the finest World Cup campaign in the country’s history at the 2026 tournament, held across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Led by Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah and coached by former national team great Hossam Hassan, the Pharaohs advanced through the group stage unbeaten, finishing second in their group with five points after beating New Zealand and drawing with Belgium and Iran.
The win over New Zealand marked Egypt’s first ever victory at a World Cup, having previously appeared in 1934, 1990, and 2018 without winning a match. The team then defeated Australia 4-2 on penalties in the round of 32, following a 1-1 draw after extra time, to reach the knockout rounds for the first time in the nation’s history. Captain Salah converted a composed Panenka penalty in the shootout.
Egypt’s run ended in the round of 16 against defending champions Argentina. The Pharaohs led 2-0 through goals from Yasser Ibrahim and Mostafa Zico, and goalkeeper Mostafa Shobeir saved a penalty from Lionel Messi. Argentina recovered to win 3-2, with Messi levelling the match before Enzo Fernandez struck a late winner. Egypt left the tournament having recorded its deepest ever World Cup finish, and coach Hossam Hassan drew widespread praise for guiding the side to the milestone.
Egypt’s campaign was part of a strong showing by Arab and African nations at the 2026 World Cup. Morocco reached the quarterfinals, and Cape Verde qualified for the first time in its history.
For Egyptian fans, the team’s progress carried particular weight given decades of near misses, and the recognition from the UAE reflected how far the achievement resonated. The Al Habtoor Group’s statement framed the cars as a tribute to the delegation’s historic run, extending the celebration from Cairo’s streets to the UAE.
