Barcelona's teenage sensation Hamza Abdelkarim is writing one of football's most thrilling stories this season. The 18-year-old forward, who only joined the Catalan giants in January from Al-Ahly, is now reportedly set for a spot in Egypt's squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, Mexico, and Canada.

Though he hasn't yet featured for Barça Atlètic, instead honing his skills with Pol Planas' Juvenil A side, Abdelkarim's talent has clearly caught the eye of Egypt's national team setup. According to SPORT, he is among a provisional 50-man shortlist from which manager Hossam Hassan will select his final World Cup squad. Sources within the Egyptian Football Federation indicate that Hassan has already contacted the young striker, instructing him to complete the necessary paperwork for entry into the US—a strong signal that he will be included.

The teenager's rise has been nothing short of meteoric. He has become a massive sensation in his home country, especially after his high-profile move to Barcelona. Reports in Egypt suggested he was competing for a World Cup berth with Zamalek's Nasser Mansi, also 18, and 27-year-old Al-Masry forward Salah Mohsen. It now appears that Abdelkarim has won that battle, bringing immense excitement to fans who see his enormous potential.

What makes this story even more remarkable is that he could head to a World Cup without having made his senior debut for Egypt. So far, he has only represented the nation at the Under-17 level, making the leap truly extraordinary. Barcelona are closely monitoring the situation, as the club holds a purchase option with Al-Ahly—and his rapid development only strengthens the case for triggering it.

For a player who was still competing at youth level just months ago, a World Cup call-up would be the ultimate validation of his talent and hard work. All eyes are now on Egypt's final squad announcement.