1951 to 2025: 6 Sports Championships Where Egypt Hit a Home Run in Hosting
Egypt’s contributions in international sports extend beyond athletic achievements. The country has consistently stepped up as a reliable host for major global competitions.
This is especially true when Africa or the Middle East needed a stage. With Cairo set to host Africa’s first official flag football championship in June, here’s how six landmark events established Egypt’s status as a global sports hub.
1951 – Alexandria Hosts the First Mediterranean Games
Egypt made history by organizing the inaugural Mediterranean Games in Alexandria. It became the first country to host the multi-sport regional event. According to the International Committee of the Mediterranean Games, 734 athletes from 10 countries participated.
This set a precedent for Egypt’s role in regional sports leadership just a year before the country became a republic.
2019 – Egypt Steps In to Host the Expanded Africa Cup of Nations
When Cameroon lost its hosting rights, Egypt was selected on short notice to host the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). This edition was the first to feature 24 teams, up from 16, according to CAF Online News. Games were held in Cairo, Suez, Ismailia, and Alexandria. This made it one of the largest tournaments ever staged on African soil at the time.
Egypt had previously hosted AFCON in 1959, 1974, 1986, and 2006. It remains the most successful nation in the tournament’s history with 7 championships under its belt, the latest in 2010.
2021 – World Modern Pentathlon Championship Relocates to Cairo
Originally scheduled to take place in Belarus, the 2021 UIPM World Modern Pentathlon Championships were moved to Cairo due to political instability. Egypt hosted the event smoothly, with global participation.
This was the second time Egypt hosted the event after 2017, when Cairo became the first African city to ever organize the Senior World Championships, as noted by the UIPM. Alexandria later hosted the 2022 edition.
2022 – Egypt Becomes the First African Nation to Host the FIBA Intercontinental Cup
In February 2022, the FIBA Intercontinental Cup landed in Cairo. It was a first for the continent, with Zamalek SC representing Africa after winning the Basketball Africa League. Teams like NBA G League Ignite were also part of the four-team tournament held at the Hassan Moustafa Sports Hall.
2025 – Egypt Continues a Rich Handball Legacy with the IHF U-19 Championship
Egypt continues its streak in hosting top-tier handball events. After organizing the 2021 IHF Men’s World Championship – an unprecedented event that brought 32 international teams to Egypt during the COVID-19 pandemic – the country remains a go-to host for the International Handball Federation (IHF).
The country also hosted the tournament in 1999, 2007, and more recently the IHF Wheelchair World Championships in 2022 when it was its debut, and again in 2024, along with the Men’s Club World Championship in the same year.
Looking ahead, Cairo will host the IHF Men’s U-19 (Youth) World Championship in August, continuing a long-standing tradition of excellence in handball hosting.
2025 – Cairo Will Host Africa’s First Flag Football Championship
Coming this June, AFRICA FLAG 2025 is the first official continental flag football tournament in Africa. This event is ahead of the sport’s debut in the 2028 Olympic Games. The championship is organized by the International Federation of American Football (IFAF) in partnership with NFL Africa and the Egyptian Federation of American Football (EFAF).
National men’s and women’s teams will compete for the title. They also compete for a shot at the 2026 IFAF Flag Football World Championships.
There will also be NFL-backed youth tournaments for under-12 teams from Egypt, Nigeria, Ghana, and Kenya. Additionally, there will be development camps scouting future talent for programs like the NFL Academy in the UK.
“AFRICA FLAG 2025 is a huge moment for the continued growth of flag football across our continent,” said Amira Nader, quarterback for Egypt’s Womens National Team, via Football Foundation for Africa.
Egypt’s Consistent Presence on the Global Sports Stage
In an era where sports diplomacy shapes national identity, Egypt has emerged as a go-to host nation across multiple disciplines. It steps up when global events are relocated and champions emerging Olympic sports.
Its consistent ability to deliver large-scale competitions establishes its place as a pillar of Africa’s and the Middle East’s international sports ecosystem. With upcoming tournaments like the CISM World Military Equestrian Championship in May and the ISSF World Shooting Championships in November, Egypt continues to strengthen its role in influencing the global sports arena.
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