Egypt coach Hossam Hassan provides an update on Mohamed Salah’s fitness ahead of Egypt’s FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32 match against Australia. Multiple outlets report that Salah suffered a muscle injury during the group stage, with the injury described as a hamstring or thigh-related problem sustained in Egypt’s last group match versus Iran. He was substituted in the 57th minute against Iran after scans confirmed the strain, and the squad awaited updates on his availability over the following days.
Ahead of the knockout fixture, Hassan indicates Salah is expected to feature, though his exact role is initially uncertain, with some reporting suggesting he could come off the bench depending on how he responds during match preparations. By the time of matchday coverage, several sources also report that Salah is listed as a starter for Egypt’s Round of 32 debut against Australia in Dallas, though one outlet frames his starting status as still unclear. Overall, the reporting converges on Salah’s injury context and the late decision-making by the coach regarding whether he begins the match or is used as a substitute.
