Haitham Hassan, the Egyptian national team player, revealed the behind-the-scenes details of his decision to represent the "Pharaohs", confirming that the decision was personal and received full support from his parents, despite his mother being Tunisian.
Haitham Hassan said, in statements to the "Al-Hekaya" program broadcast on MBC Egypt channel: "My father was proud of my decision to participate with the Egyptian national team, and told me to think carefully and make the appropriate decision, and my mother did not ask me to participate with Tunisia".
In response to a question about whether his decision caused any problem within the family, he said: "No, no problem occurred, and the decision was in my hands, and they told me that the national team is not like the club, and you have to think about this matter a lot".
He added: "My father was proud of my decision to represent the Egyptian national team, as he used to play football and support the Egyptian national team, and my mother was not sad about my representing the Egyptian national team".
Haitham Hassan concluded his statements by saying: "In the end, they were very happy and proud of me".
It is worth noting that the 24-year-old player had participated for the first time with the Pharaohs in the 2026 World Cup against Australia, in the round of 32 in the World Cup, in the match that the Egyptian national team won on penalties.
