Egypt captain Mohamed Salah doubtful for World Cup knockout vs Australia

Egypt reached the knockout stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup for the first time after a 1‑1 draw with Iran, securing second place in Group G. Forward Mohamed Salah, who scored one goal and provided two assists in the tournament, was substituted in the 57th minute of the Iran match after feeling pain in his left thigh. Medical scans confirmed a hamstring/ posterior‑thigh strain, prompting concerns ahead of Egypt’s round‑of‑32 clash with Australia on 3 July in Dallas.

Head coach Hossam Hassan said Salah had spoken positively about his condition and that the injury was not serious, adding that there was sufficient time for treatment before the upcoming match. The Egyptian Football Association also reported injuries to left‑back Ahmed Fatouh (hamstring tear) and centre‑back Mohamed Abdelmonem (ankle bruise), further affecting squad depth. The team remains hopeful that Salah will recover in time for the historic knockout encounter.