Salah to Captain Egypt at First World Cup Since 2018 as Hossam Hassan Names Final 26
Mohamed Salah will captain Egypt at their first World Cup since 2018 after being named in Hossam Hassan's final 26-man squad, with Manchester City forward Omar Marmoush also included. Salah arrives two goals short of Hassan's national scoring record. Egypt open Group G against Belgium in Seattle on June 15.
E gypt have named their squad for the 2026 World Cup, and Mohamed Salah is the standout name in Hossam Hassan's final 26. Salah will captain the side at Egypt's first World Cup since 2018, with Manchester City forward Omar Marmoush also included as the Pharaohs prepare for the tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Salah leads after the end of his Liverpool era
Salah, 33, captains Egypt at the tournament after ending his nine-year spell at Liverpool in 2025-26. He left Anfield having scored 257 goals with 120 assists in 442 appearances across all competitions under Jurgen Klopp and Arne Slot. He has made 113 appearances for Egypt, eighth on the country's all-time list, and now sits two goals short of the national-team scoring record of 69 held by his head coach, Hossam Hassan. His only previous World Cup, in Russia in 2018, brought two goals but a group-stage exit after three defeats.
Marmoush and a teenage call-up
Marmoush is included after his first season at Manchester City, where he started 18 of 39 matches. Egypt have also selected teenage forward Hamza Abdelkarim, who is on loan from Al Ahly to Barcelona's reserve side. The squad was trimmed from a 27-man provisional list, with Enppi striker Aqtay Abdallah the player to drop out.
Group G and the road to a first knockout berth
Egypt have already begun their build-up, beating Russia 1-0 in a friendly in Cairo, with Marmoush playing until the 72nd minute. They face five-time champions Brazil in Cleveland on June 6 before opening Group G against Belgium at Lumen Field in Seattle on June 15. New Zealand in Vancouver on June 21 and Iran in Seattle on June 26 complete the group, as Egypt aim to reach the knockout phase of a World Cup for the first time.
Reporting: beIN Sports and the Egyptian Football Association, May 30, 2026.