Spain-Egypt Friendly at Risk Due to Bureaucratic Issues
Spain's scheduled La Finalissima match against Argentina last weekend was called off. The high-profile fixture had to be cancelled because the involved parties couldn't agree on an alternative venue, especially after Qatar was ruled out as an option due to escalating tensions in the Middle East.
Next weekend, Spain is set to play a friendly against Serbia, followed three days later by a home match against Egypt. This fixture would be their last before a significant summer period culminating in the 2026 World Cup. However, concerns are rising that the match against Egypt might not take place.
According to Diario AS, the friendly between Spain and Egypt is in jeopardy because the Egyptian Football Federation has not yet secured the required visas for its delegation to travel to Spain.
Hany Abo Rida, President of the Egyptian Football Federation, is reportedly engaging directly with authorities to resolve the visa issues. Should these efforts fail, Spain might have to play only one match during the upcoming international break. This would be a significant setback for players aiming to impress Luis de la Fuente and secure a spot in the World Cup squad.
Clubs Might Welcome Postponement of Egypt Friendly
Conversely, major clubs like Barcelona and Real Madrid, along with others who expect their players to feature for Spain, might welcome the cancellation of the Egypt friendly. This is particularly true since the match is scheduled just days before the resumption of club football, offering valuable extra rest for key 'La Roja' players. Nevertheless, the RFEF might still seek an alternative solution if Egypt cannot participate.
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