Barcelona starlet to be available at Flick’s disposal for pre-season on Monday after receiving state honours

Barcelona starlet to be available at Flick’s disposal for pre-season on Monday after receiving state honours Hamza Abdelkarim was one of the youngest players at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, as he was selected for the Egyptian national team despite having minimal experience at the top level. A youth player at Barcelona, Hamza made four appearances at the World Cup, though he failed to start a single one of them. He was part of the Egyptian side that ultimately surprised everyone by reaching the Round of 16. Egypt’s elimination to Argentina has been a subject of mass contention, with the North African nation firmly believing that they were robbed of a win by officials. And therefore, the players have been welcomed as heroes back home for putting up a strong fight. State honours for Hamza Hamza featured in four matches at the World Cup. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) As reported by Mundo Deportivo , Hamza and his Egyptian teammates received a state welcome upon their return home, with the country’s president, Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, receiving the squad on Saturday following their arrival back in Cairo. The Egyptian president praised his players for competing with integrity and earning the respect of the people, something he insisted was worth more than any trophy. It capped a remarkable tournament for the young striker, who became Egypt’s youngest-ever World Cup debutant at 18 years and 165 days. Returning to Flick’s squad Despite the emotional homecoming and the honours bestowed upon him, Hamza will waste little time in getting back to work at Barcelona. Hamza will look to make an impression in pre-season. (Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images) The 18-year-old is one of the youth team players called up by Hansi Flick for pre-season training with the first team. Although he would have been entitled to two additional weeks of holiday due to his World Cup participation, Hamza has chosen to forgo them and will join his teammates this Monday to begin pre-season under the German coach. This is a great sign of commitment for a player who, rather than resting on the back of a memorable summer, is now eager to make an immediate impression in the pre-season and hope for a role in the first-team heading into the new season.