Egypt are part of Group G at the 2026 World Cup along with Belgium, New Zealand, and Iran [Getty/file photo]
Mohamed Salah will captain his side at this summer’s FIFA World Cup, after the Egyptian football federation confirmed its preliminary squad for the tournament.
The Egyptian King, who is leaving Liverpool at the end of the season, has 116 internationals for his country and 67 goals. He will be joined by 26 other teammates, including some familiar faces and some newcomers.
Four goalkeepers will feature in the team, instead of the traditional three, with Mohamed El-Shenawy expected to start. Mohamed Hany, Yassir Ibrahim, Mohamed Abelmonem, and Mohamed Abou El Foutouh are expected to start as defenders.
Regular starters Emam Ashour, Mohamed Attia, and Hamdy Fathy are included in coach Hossam Hassan’s squad.
As for attackers, Salah will be joined by Manchester City’s Omar Marmoush, Trezeguet, Zizo, and rising star Hamza Abdelkerim, who plays for Barcelona’s reserve team, on loan from Al Ahly.
Noticeably absent is Nantes forward Mostafa Mohamed, who has been capped by the national team over 60 times, having scored 14 goals.
Egypt coach Hassan will also drop one player to adhere to FIFA’s 26-player limit following the two friendly matches Egypt will play against Russia on 28 May and Brazil on 6 June.
Egypt find themselves in Group G alongside Belgium, New Zealand, and Iran, whose participation has been a subject of doubt and controversy, given the US war on the country and attempts to prevent it attending.
The Pharaohs’ first game will be against Belgium on 15 June in Seattle’s Lumen Field stadium.
Belgium are likely to top their group and proceed easily to the knockout stage, while Egypt is expected to battle it out for second place with Iran, who ranked eight spots above the Pharaohs in the FIFA rankings.
Earlier this year, Egypt reached the semifinals of the African Cup of Nations, having lost to finalists Senegal in Tangier, Morocco, on 14 January. The Pharaohs finished fourth overall after losing to Nigeria in the third-place play-offs.
The tournament is expected to be Salah’s last, who will aim to take his side as far in the competition as possible.
The 23rd edition of the FIFA World Cup will take place between 11 June and 19 July across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. This year will mark the fourth time Egypt has appeared at the World Cup finals, the previous times being in 2018, 1990, and 1934.
Egypt team:
Goalkeepers: Mohamed El Shenawy (Al Ahly), Mostafa Shobeir (Al Ahly), El Mahdi Soliman (Zamalek), Mohamed Alaa (El Gouna).
Defenders: Mohamed Hany (Al Ahly), Tarek Alaa (Zed), Hamdy Fathy (Al Wakrah), Rai Rabia (Al Ain), Yasser Ibrahim (Al Ahly), Hossam Abdelmaguid (Zamalek), Mohamed Abdelmonem (Nice), Ahmed Fatouh (Zamalek), Karim Hafez (Pyramids).
Midfielders: Marwan Ateya (Al Ahly), Mohanad Lahseen (Pyramids), Nabil Emad (Al Najma), Mahmoud Saber (Zed), Ahmed Zizo (Al Ahly), Emam Ashour (Al Ahly), Mostafa Ziko (Pyramids), Mahmoud Trezeguet (Al Ahly), Ibrahim Adel (Nordsjaelland), Haissem Hassan (Real Oviedo).
Forwards: Omar Marmoush (Manchester City), Mohamed Salah (Liverpool), Aqtay Abdallah (Enppi), Hamza Abdelkarim (Barcelona B).
