The 10 Most Popular Sports in Egypt – Updated for 2025!
Egypt is home to ancient wonders, friendly people and a one-of-a-kind culture. But it’s also a proud sporting nation.
So, which sports are the most popular amongst Egyptians? The Sporting Blog tells all…
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Egypt has produced some of the most talented athletes and sportspeople in North Africa, and it has a history of success in several international competitions.
Egypt has won the African Cup of Nations seven times. The country has also hosted numerous global events, including the World Men’s Handball Championship.
According to Mideast Media, 50% of people in Egypt enjoy watching sports on television and online streaming services. Around 40% of Egyptians also love attending sporting events as spectators.
In this article, we take a look at the most popular sports in Egypt in 2025, including key players and important moments in Egyptian sporting history.
Football
Football is the most popular sport in Egypt. Egyptians play football everywhere, from the bustling streets of Cairo to the country’s most remote villages. People of all ages, skill levels and backgrounds play football, as they do all over the world.
Egypt’s national football team, also known as the Pharaohs, has millions of fans worldwide. Egypt was the first African country to participate in the World Cup in 1934, and the Pharaohs have won the African Cup of Nations three times in a row in 2006, 2008 and 2010.
Likewise, the country’s domestic league — the Egyptian Premier League — is highly competitive. Teams such as Zamalek and Al Ahly have a substantial fanbase.
Al Ahly are the record 12-time CAF Champions League winners (as of May 2024), underlining the sport’s pull and Egypt’s club strength on the continent.
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Pyramids FC have also won continental silverware in 2025, first winning the CAF Champions League and then the African Super Cup in October 2025.
Major European fixtures featuring Egyptian stars attract large domestic audiences. For example, UK news coverage noted “millions expected to tune in” across Egypt for Mohamed Salah vs Omar Marmoush in February 2025.
Football player Mohamed Salah has had a transformative effect on Egyptian football. Salah’s success in Europe with clubs such as Roma, Chelsea and Liverpool has raised the profile of Egyptian football on the international stage.
Ramadan Sobhi is also known as the most valuable player in the Egyptian Premier League, with a market value of three million euros. Other star Egyptian football players include Ferjani Sassi and Mohamed El Shenawy.
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Basketball
Basketball’s profile in Egypt has spiked with the Basketball Africa League (BAL) era and strong national-team showings. Egypt’s Zamalek won the inaugural BAL title in 2021, establishing Egyptian clubs as continental forces.
Egypt has won 17 medals at the African Championship, which makes it the second most successful country in basketball after Angola.
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Egypt has also hosted the AfroBasket six times and won four gold medals in these tournaments. The country has more than 200 basketball clubs with over 30,000 registered players.
The Egyptian Basketball Federation governs and organises domestic, national and international basketball competitions.
Squash
British officers introduced squash to Egypt during the colonial era. However, the Egyptian elite quickly adopted squash, and it soon became a popular sport among all classes of society. Today, young individuals play squash in schools, clubs and even on the streets of Egypt.
Egypt has 400 squash courts and over 10,000 players. In fact, four of the top five men’s squash players are from Egypt, and the top three women’s squash players are also Egyptians.
The country has produced a range of talented squash players, including Mostafa Asal, Amr Shabana, Ramy Ashour and Nour El Sherbini. Amr Shabana won the World Open four times in 2003, 2005, 2007 and 2009.
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The domestic circuit’s strength is visible in major events staged in Cairo, such as the CIB Egyptian Open in 2025.
Egyptian squash enthusiasts play five times more matches than players in other countries. This streamlines the squash landscape and attracts versatile talent.
Similarly, the Egyptian Squash Association supports young players in accessing quality facilities and polishing their skills. Egyptians have a unique playing style, which makes them stand out from their opponents.
Handball
Handball is a very popular sport in Egypt, with many young individuals in schools and colleges playing the game as an extracurricular activity.
According to the official International Handball Federation (IHF), Egypt’s men’s team placed seventh at the last two World Championships (2021, 2023) and reached a historic fourth in 2001.
Egypt is the reigning African champion (2024) on the men’s side and has stacked titles across youth and junior categories, including a 2024 CAHB men’s junior crown.
Fan engagement is real: in 2025, the IHF highlighted a record handball attendance of 22,150 at a Spain-Egypt youth world quarter-final, a reminder that fixtures in Egypt can mobilise big crowds.
Egypt also hosted the 2025 IHF Men’s Club World Championship, underscoring the country’s central role in the sport’s global calendar.
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Handball has a strong and passionate following among the young Egyptian population at amateur and professional levels. Founded in 1958, the Egyptian Handball League is the most popular professional league, with successful teams like Al Ahly SC, Zamalek SC, Smouha SC and Gezira SC.
The Egyptian Handball Federation (EHF) has also played a critical role in promoting the sport nationwide. The IHF recognised the EHF in 1960, and the EHF joined the African Handball Confederation in 1973.
Egypt was also the first non-European handball team to reach the World Championships semifinals. Similarly, it is the first African country to reach the Olympics semifinals.
Looking for more? Check out our guide to handball – everything you need to know!
Tennis
Tennis is famous in Egypt, particularly among the middle and upper classes. It has a solid following among men and women playing the game at amateur and professional levels.
The Egyptian Tennis Federation (ETF) was established in 1920. It organises tournaments at the domestic and national level.
In addition, the country has produced several notable tennis players over the years, including Ismail El Shafei, Tamer El Sawy and Mohamed Safwat.
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The sport is also popular among tourists, with many resorts offering tennis facilities and equipment for guests. There are many tennis courts across Egypt, which makes it easy for people to play and enjoy the sport.
Egyptian tennis players have succeeded in international competitions, helping to inspire and motivate young players in the country. For example, Mohamed Safwat was the first Egyptian to play in the Grand Slam.
Boxing
Boxing has a long history in Egypt, with many legendary fighters and boxers achieving significant success in international competitions.
This includes multiple Olympic and World Championship medals. The Egyptian national team dominated the 2018 Arab Junior boxing championship, winning five gold and four silver medals.
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The popularity of boxing in Egypt is due to accessible facilities and training programmes. Boxing gyms and training are available throughout the country, making it easy for aspiring boxers to learn and practice the sport.
Over 2,000 Egyptian boxers practice fighting sports in 200 clubs and gyms. This also includes martial arts like Muay Thai, allowing boxers to improve their strength and fighting skills.
Table Tennis
Table tennis is a genuine mass-and-medal sport for Egypt, powered by a conveyor belt of champions and deep team depth.
At the 2024 African Games (Accra), Egypt won six golds to finish as the continent’s dominant table tennis nation. In continental seniors, Egypt also won five of the seven titles in 2024.
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Flag-bearer Omar Assar reached the Paris 2024 Olympic quarterfinals (his second Olympic last-eight run) before clinching a record fifth African singles title in 2025.
Meanwhile, Hana Goda, just 17, became the youngest player to win three straight African women’s singles titles in 2025. She is recognised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) as Africa’s top-ranked female.
Emerging Sports (Padel and Street Football)
A few new emerging sports are gaining popularity in Egypt in 2025. Padel clubs have multiplied in Cairo, Giza and coastal cities over recent years, with heavy bookings for local courts.
Street football culture also remains vibrant, and Reuters recently spotlighted Alexandria’s Ramadan “sock ball,” a mass community variant that draws players and spectators into night-time tournaments. This illustrates the grassroots depth of football in Egypt.
Running
Community running has surged in Egypt, led by CairoRunners and marquee events. The Zayed Charity Run reported over 50,000 participants in its 2024 edition, staged in the New Administrative Capital.
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The Cairo Marathon is also now a fixture in Egypt, with official timing results and multi-distance formats published for 2024-2025 showing sustained participation across 21K, 10K and 5K.
Volleyball
Volleyball is a major national team sport in Egypt. Egypt’s men’s team are the continent’s benchmark. In 2023, they won their ninth African championship, reclaiming the continental crown and extending their record title haul.
Domestic enthusiasm translates to clubs, too. Cairo’s big multisport institutions field successful volleyball programmes, and African club events frequently pass through Egypt, drawing large in-arena audiences as title stakes rise.
Volleyball is also one of the most popular sports in Italy!
Infrastructure and Participation Indicators in Egyptian Sport
The scale of Egypt’s organised sport is visible in national statistics. For example, Egypt’s statistics authority reported 5,240 sports establishments in 2021, up from 5,157 in 2020 (+1.6%).
The numbers don’t lie! This reflects a steady facility growth at clubs and centres across the country.
What Sports Do You Associate with Egypt?
Sports play a significant role in Egyptian society, culture and economy. All of the sports listed in this article are a source of national pride and identity.
Egyptians are passionate about supporting their favourite teams and athletes, or even playing these games for themselves. That’s because sports bring people together. They create a sense of community and help to strengthen social bonds throughout the country.
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