Salah to Captain Egypt, Mostafa Mohamed Left Out, Barcelona U19 Teen Abdelkarim Included
Head coach Hossam Hassan has named Mohamed Salah as captain for Egypt's 27-man preliminary World Cup squad. Nantes forward Mostafa Mohamed is a notable omission, while uncapped 17-year-old Hamza Abdelkarim of the Barcelona U19 team has been included. The squad will be cut to 26 after a friendly against Russia in Cairo on May 28. Egypt face Brazil in a Cleveland warm-up on June 6 before opening against Belgium in Seattle on June 15.
E gypt's World Cup 2026 squad is taking shape. Head coach Hossam Hassan named Mohamed Salah captain of the 27-man preliminary list, with one cut to follow after a final home friendly against Russia in Cairo on May 28 to reach the FIFA-mandated 26. The two biggest names in the list either way are Mostafa Mohamed, omitted after a difficult relegated season at Nantes, and Hamza Abdelkarim, the uncapped 17-year-old from Barcelona's under-19 team who has been called in.
Salah named captain
Salah captains Egypt at a World Cup for the first time. The Liverpool forward will combine with Manchester City's Omar Marmoush to lead the attack, with Hassan formalising the captaincy on Wednesday. Salah sits two goals behind the national-team scoring record of 69 held by Hassan himself, and his two goals at Russia 2018 remain his only World Cup output. Marmoush carries Premier League form from his City breakthrough season into the tournament.
Mostafa Mohamed the surprise omission
The most-discussed name on the list is the one not on it. Nantes forward Mostafa Mohamed has been left out despite his recent senior international standing. The Egyptian had a difficult campaign, scoring four goals in 24 appearances as Nantes were relegated from Ligue 1. Hassan has opted to use the squad slot elsewhere.
Abdelkarim the headline newcomer
In his place at the front of the attacking pecking order is a teenager. Hamza Abdelkarim, 17 and an uncapped member of Barcelona's under-19 side, has been one of the most prolific Egyptian-eligible forwards in European youth football this season and earns the call. Travelling without a senior cap to a World Cup is unusual, but the head coach has trusted the form.
The full preliminary 27
Goalkeepers: Mohamed El Shenawy (Al Ahly), Mostafa Shobeir (Al Ahly), El-Mahdi Soliman (Zamalek), Mohamed Alaa (El Gouna). Defenders: Mohamed Hany (Al Ahly), Tarek Alaa (Zed), Hamdy Fathy (Al Wakrah), Rami Rabia (Al Ain), Yasser Ibrahim (Al Ahly), Hossam Abdelmaguid (Zamalek), Mohamed Abdelmonem (Nice), Ahmed Fatouh (Zamalek), Karim Hafez (Pyramids). Midfielders: Marwan Ateya (Al Ahly), Mohanad Lasheen (Pyramids), Nabil Emad (Al Najma), Mahmoud Saber (Zed), Ahmed Zizo (Al Ahly), Emam Ashour (Al Ahly), Mostafa Ziko (Pyramids), Mahmoud Trezeguet (Al Ahly), Ibrahim Adel (Nordsjaelland), Haissem Hassan (Real Oviedo). Forwards: Omar Marmoush (Manchester City), Mohamed Salah (Liverpool), Aqtay Abdallah (Enppi), Hamza Abdelkarim (Barcelona U19).
Friendlies and the road to Seattle
Egypt close their preparation at home against Russia in Cairo on May 28, the date that will trigger the final cut from 27 to 26. The squad then crosses the Atlantic and meets Brazil in a Cleveland friendly on June 6. The World Cup itself opens against Belgium in Seattle on June 15 at 17:00 PDT, before New Zealand in Vancouver on June 21 and Iran back in Seattle on June 26. Group G is the bracket through which the Pharaohs target a first-ever knockout berth.
Reporting: Reuters / Al Jazeera, May 21, 2026.