Introduction :

Ancient Egyptians had known the game of football which was recorded on the walls of the temples and discovered by "Herodt" when he visited Egypt.

Egyptians had played football when they organized matches with the British occupation teams in 1882. They also organized matches among students on March 7, 1914 by Al Ahly Sporting Club for Ahmed Heshmat Pasha, Minister of Information. These matches started from 1914 until 1932, it contributed in the spread of the game in the rest of Egypt. Nevertheless, this game championship had stopped in 1919 because of Saad Zaghloul revolution.

The Egyptian football festivities were launched officially in late 1921; when the Egyptian Football Association was founded, headed by Jaafar Pasha in 1921 as a result of the effort made by Captain Hussein Hijazi before 1920 Olympics. On October 18, 1922 the senior management of the Egyptian Football Association (EFA) laid down terms to accept the membership of clubs and organizations in the Egyptian Football Association and formed a department to develop the constitution of the Cup of Egyptian Excellence and granting diploma to the winner of the club.

On May 21, 1923 the International Federation of Football "FIFA" had granted membership to the Egyptian Football Association (EFA) during a conference held in the city of Lausanne, since then the Egyptian football Association (EFA) has enjoyed full authority on all aspects locally, internationally, and Olympiads. On October 13, 1925, Sports Act was published as well as the law of the Egyptian Cup of Excellence. In 1957, the Egyptian Football Association (EFA) joined Confederation of African football.

Egypt has participated in several African, Arab, Asian and international championships, such as :-

- African Cup of Nations, held every two years, launched in 1957. Egypt hosted this Championship four times (1959-1974- 1986-2006).

- Egypt has won the African Cup of nations six times (Sudan 1957, Egypt 1959 & 1986 , Burkina Faso 1986, Egypt 2006, Ghana 2008), in addition, Egypt was qualified for the final match for (7) times.

FIFA World Cup:

The Egyptian team had participated in the World Cup twice, in 1934 and in 1990, which were held in Italy.

World Military Cup:

The Egyptian military team had participated in the World Military Cup, attained a major achievement in the World Military Soccer Championship, for five times (1993 - 1999 - 2001 – 2005- 2007).

World Youth Cup:

Egypt participated in the World Youth Cup, championships in Australia, 1981, and in Argentina 2001 where the Egyptian national team had become the third to win the bronze medal.

Egypt will also host the World Youth Cup 2009.

FIFA Confederations Cup 2009
Egypt participated in the FIFA Confederations Cup 2009 held on June 14 to 18, 2009 in South Africa.

The Confederations Cup is the competition, second only to the FIFA World Cup at which national teams acquire international ranks and standings. Held every 4 years, the event is considered a dress-rehearsal of organization for the country hosting the FIFA World Cup.
The draw for the competition was held on 22 November 2008 at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg. The competitors were divided into two groups. Group A included: South Africa, Spain, Iraq, and New Zealand; Group B: Egypt, Brazil, Italy, and the USA.

Egypt played three matches winning against Italy 1 – 0, and losing against Brazil 3 – 4 in the extra time, and the USA 3 – 0.

In the match against Brazil, Mohammad Zeidan was the man of the hour; so also was Mohammad Homos in the match against Italy.

Egypt National Team won the respect of football fans all over the world. FIFA applauded their performance in the match against Brazil on its official website. The African championships were the first to score three goals in Brazil’s net ever since Carlos Verri - commonly known as Dunga assumed the position of team manager.

Egypt National Team was also the first adult National Team to beat Italy, the World Champions in an international competition.

The FIFA Confederations Cup – 2009 came to a close with Brazil winning the title for the second time in a row and the third time in its history. The USA came in second place and Spain in third.
 

FIFA CUP 2009