Football is the most popularnational sport of Egypt. TheCairo Derby is one of the fiercest derbies in Africa, and the BBC picked it as one of the 7 toughest derbies in the world.[1]Al Ahly is the most successful club of the 20th century in the African continent according to CAF, closely followed by their rivalsZamalek SC.[2]Squash and tennis are other popular sports in Egypt. Egypt has also won in theAfrican Men's Handball Championship five times, being the best team in Africa.
Thepharaoh's athletic capabilities were one of the central motifs of ancient Egyptian society.[3] Sport was believed to foster ties to the divine, with board games discovered on the roofs of temples,[4] as well as increase collaboration in society.[5]
There were sporting exchanges between Egypt and Greco-Roman cultures as well, due to their Mediterranean proximity.[6] During the period ofHellenistic and earlyRoman rule in Egypt, Greek sport became a legal requirement for elites.[7]
In the 1930s and 1940s, Egypt was a powerhouse inweightlifting,boxing, andwrestling with several Olympic and world championship medals.[citation needed] However, the last time they won a medal in boxing was in 1960.[8]
Roller hockey is also a popular sport in Egypt. The Egyptian national roller hockey team has taken part in many world competitions, but didn't win any as of now.[citation needed]
Egypt featured a national team in beach volleyball that competed at the2018–2020 CAVB Beach Volleyball Continental Cup in both the women's and the men's section.[9]
Football is the most popular sport inEgypt, manyEgyptians gather around to watch various Egyptian clubs and theEgyptian national football team play on an almost daily basis. Around 60% of the Egyptians are football fans.
Zamalek andAl Ahly are amongst the most popular in the country, both of which are based inCairo. Both teams compete in theEgyptian Premier League, the highest tier of Egyptian football. These two teams compete in theCairo Derby. Other notable teams include:Ismaily,Al-Masry,Al Ittihad.
The top 10 sports in Egypt in 2025:[10]
| # | Sport | Extra information |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Association football | By far the most popular sport in Egypt. |
| 2 | Basketball | The national team is widely followed and the sport is widely played. |
| 3 | Volleyball | Particularly popular in Cairo. |
| 4 | Handball | |
| 5 | Tennis | |
| 6 | Squash | |
| 7 | Swimming | |
| 8 | Boxing | |
| 9 | Table tennis | |
| 10 | Taekwondo |
