Mohamed Salah, captain and key figure of Egypt, is at risk of missing the decisive match against Australia in the Round of 16 of the World Cup 2026, following the confirmation of a muscle injury. The Egyptian medical department revealed that tests conducted on the number 10 jersey diagnosed a muscle strain in his thigh. The forward was forced to leave during the 1-1 draw with Iran, already complaining of pain in the affected area, and is now undergoing rehabilitation. Up until the injury, Salah had scored a goal in the World Cup, in the 3-1 victory over New Zealand, during the second round of the group stage. The medical report of the Egyptian national team also includes other concerns. Left-back Ahmed Fatouh suffered a muscle tear in his thigh and is expected to miss the rest of the competition. Meanwhile, defender Abdel Monem is recovering from an ankle injury. In the Round of 16, Egypt will face Australia. Both teams secured qualification by finishing in second place in their respective groups. The Egyptians accumulated five points in Group G, while Australia finished with four points in Group D.
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