Egypt captain Mohamed Salah has offered reassurance to supporters ahead of the national team’s highly anticipated 2026 World Cup round-of-32 meeting with Australia, saying he is ready to return after making significant progress in his recovery from injury.
The forward has resumed training following a hamstring strain suffered during Egypt’s final group-stage match against Iran, raising hopes that he could feature in Friday evening’s knockout encounter, scheduled to kick off at 9:00pm Cairo and Mecca time.
Although Salah has declared himself fit enough to play, the final decision on his involvement will rest with head coach Hossam Hassan and his technical staff as they prepare for one of the most significant matches in Egypt’s World Cup history.
Salah returns to group training
Salah sustained the injury during Egypt’s 1-1 draw with Iran in the third and final group-stage fixture. After undergoing medical examinations, he spent recent days following a treatment programme aimed at accelerating his recovery.
The Egypt captain returned to the training ground on Tuesday, taking part in part of the team’s group training session. His participation was viewed as an encouraging sign that his rehabilitation has progressed well.
Having overcome the fatigue that followed the injury, Salah informed the coaching staff that he is prepared to face Australia should he be selected.
Despite the positive update, the technical staff will continue assessing his condition before making a final decision on whether he starts or is used during the match.
Further encouragement for Egypt with Hamdi Fathi’s return
Egypt also received another positive fitness update as midfielder Hamdi Fathi returned to full group training.
Fathi had only completed part of the previous day’s session but was able to train normally on Tuesday, increasing the likelihood of his involvement against Australia.
His return provides additional options for Hossam Hassan as Egypt finalise preparations for the knockout fixture.
Rehabilitation continues for Fattouh and Abdel Moneim
While Salah and Fathi have moved closer to full fitness, two other members of the squad remain unavailable as they continue their recovery programmes.
Ahmed Fattouh is still being treated for a hamstring tear, while Mohamed Abdel Moneim is recovering from a severe foot bruise.
Both players completed rehabilitation work under the supervision of the medical staff rather than joining the main training group.
The coaching team remains hopeful that continued progress in their treatment could allow them to return for later matches should Egypt continue its World Cup campaign.
Football Association backs squad before decisive test
The Egyptian Football Association’s board of directors, led by Engineer Hani Abu Rida, attended the team’s training session to offer encouragement ahead of the Australia encounter.
Their presence reflected the importance of the upcoming match, with Egypt aiming to achieve a milestone by reaching the World Cup round of 16 for the first time in the nation’s history.
During training, head coach Hossam Hassan focused on tactical preparations, working closely with his players on the patterns of play he hopes to implement against Australia.
With Salah nearing full fitness, additional players returning to training, and preparations intensifying, Egypt heads into Friday’s knockout contest with renewed optimism as the Pharaohs attempt to take another step in their 2026 World Cup journey.
