Oufa Shobeir

Trending toward starting role

Shobeir could be poised to take over as Egypt's first-choice goalkeeper at the World Cup following his solid performances in recent activity for both club and country.

Analysis: Shobeir arrives at the World Cup having built a strong case for the No. 1 shirt, edging out veteran Mohamed El Shenawy for the starting spot. That status was reinforced at AFCON 2025 where Shobeir's two starts produced two clean sheets, including a standout display against Nigeria in the third-place match where he made four saves and stopped a penalty in the shootout. At 26, he's likely approaching his prime and will hope to make an impact in the top international competition. Egypt's group draw against New Zealand and Iran offers genuine clean sheet potential, and Shobeir should face enough shots in the remaining clash against Belgium to generate a few saves as well.