Dubai: A third of young Arabs believe the region’s best hope of progressing at this summer’s World Cup rests with Egypt, according to a survey by PSB Research commissioned by Asda’a Burson-Marsteller.
PSB conducted 3,500 face-to-face interviews with Arab men and women aged 18-24 across the region between January and February, before Egypt’s star player Mohammad Salah was injured in last month’s Uefa Champions League final between Liverpool and Real Madrid.
Sixty-five per cent of Arab youth said they would closely follow the tournament with women (60 per cent) almost as likely to follow as men (70 per cent).
Among those who will follow the tournament, 34 per cent thought Egypt would go the farthest of a record four Arab nations taking part this year, followed by Morocco (22 per cent), Saudi Arabia (21 per cent) and Tunisia (19 per cent).
Eleven per cent also said they would support Egypt, making the Pharaohs almost as popular as Argentina (12 per cent) and Germany (10 per cent). Egypt was also a clear favourite among GCC Arab youth with 24 per cent saying they would support Salah’s side.
Fourteen per cent said they thought Germany would win, followed by Brazil supporters (13 per cent) and Argentina (12 per cent).
