Mohamed Salah is one of football’s best-known chess enthusiasts, having previously described himself as addicted to the game. Magnus Carlsen has also expressed an interest in playing the Egypt forward, underlining how closely the two worlds now overlap.
The pattern extends beyond Egypt. Neymar recently shared a post showing Matheus Cunha playing online chess, while Martin Zubimendi, Dani Olmo and Unai Simón are regarded as keen players within Spain’s squad.
For footballers, the appeal is obvious. Online chess is quick, private and available on a phone - an ideal distraction during the long stretches of waiting that define tournament life.
The connection between chess and football is not new. Pep Guardiola has spent time with both Garry Kasparov and Carlsen, while also studying Kasparov’s writing on strategy and decision-making.
The parallels are clear: anticipation, concentration, patience and control of space. Guardiola has argued that attacking depends on reading an opponent’s movement and staying alert to every action. On a football pitch, as on a chessboard, the best decision is often made before the decisive moment arrives.
Yet the comparison has limits. A chessboard is fixed; football is chaotic, emotional and shaped by teammates who can disrupt even the finest plan.
Zubimendi’s story gives the debate a personal edge. He began playing chess as a child, won a regional event and eventually faced a choice between pursuing the board game and football.
Argandona, who coached him, later accepted that leaving chess behind was the right decision. Zubimendi even declined a Basque chess tournament because it clashed with a football competition.
Eberechi Eze, who has appeared in a commercial alongside Carlsen, is another regular player, while Harry Kane is also understood to have played online during the tournament.
As Egypt enter their knockout campaign and future World Cups approach, chess may become an increasingly familiar part of camp culture - and another window into how footballers prepare their minds for pressure.