Egypt and Salah Chase a First-Ever World Cup Quarter-Final in Group G
Egypt arrive at the 2026 World Cup with Mohamed Salah captaining a Hossam Hassan side drawn into Group G alongside Belgium, New Zealand and Iran. The Pharaohs have never gone beyond the group stage in three previous appearances. Their three group games run in Seattle and Vancouver between June 15 and June 26.
E gypt arrive at the 2026 FIFA World Cup with realistic ambitions of reaching the knockout rounds for the first time in the country's history. Drawn into Group G alongside Belgium, New Zealand and Iran, head coach Hossam Hassan's squad will lean on captain and talisman Mohamed Salah as they target a result that has eluded every previous generation of Pharaohs at the global finals.
A 92-year wait for a knockout berth
Egypt have a unique footprint at the World Cup. They were entered for the inaugural edition in Uruguay in 1930, but severe weather conditions kept the team from making the transatlantic crossing. Four years later, at Italy 1934, the Pharaohs became the first African nation to play at a World Cup. Their tournament lasted a single match, a defeat to Hungary, and Egypt then waited 56 years before returning. At Italia 1990 they exited at the group stage despite a memorable draw with the Netherlands, and the 2018 campaign in Russia also ended after three games. The 2026 edition is Egypt's fourth ever World Cup, and no Egypt team has yet progressed to a round of 16, let alone a quarter-final.
Salah closes on the all-time Egypt record
Mohamed Salah enters the tournament closing in on one of the largest milestones in Egyptian football. He sits two goals behind the national-team scoring record of 69 held by current head coach Hossam Hassan. At Russia 2018 Salah scored twice in his only World Cup appearances to date. The Liverpool forward is expected to be supported in attack by Omar Marmoush, after a breakthrough season at Manchester City, and by experienced wide forward Mahmoud Hassan, known as Trezeguet. In midfield Emam Ashour offers creativity and energy. Mohamed El Shenawy is set to keep goal.
Group G and the schedule
Egypt's three group games run across the Pacific Northwest. They open against Belgium in Seattle on June 15 at 17:00 PDT, face New Zealand in Vancouver on June 21 at 14:00 PDT, and close against Iran in Seattle on June 26 at 20:00 PDT. Belgium are the seeded side in the group, while Iran arrive with a settled defensive structure and New Zealand are at their first World Cup since 2010. The math is straightforward: a first-time quarter-final almost certainly requires Egypt to finish at least second, then win a round-of-32 tie.
Quick facts
Captain: Mohamed Salah. Head coach: Hossam Hassan. World Cup appearances including 2026: four. Best result: group stage. Africa Cup of Nations titles: seven, the all-time record.
The provisional list as reported
A 27-name provisional list reported by Olympics.com on May 21 includes Mohamed El Shenawy, Mostafa Shobeir, El-Mahdi Soliman and Mohamed Alaa in goal; Mohamed Hani, Tarek Alaa, Hamdy Fathy, Rami Rabia, Yasser Ibrahim, Hossam Abdelmaguid, Mohamed Abdelmonem, Ahmed Fotouh and Karim Hafez in defence; Marwan Attia, Mohanad Lasheen, Nabil Emad, Mahmoud Saber, Ahmed Zizo, Emam Ashour, Mostafa Ziko, Mahmoud Trezeguet, Ibrahim Adel and Haissem Hassan in midfield; and Mohamed Salah, Omar Marmoush, Aqtay Abdallah and Hamza Abdelkarim up front. The list is provisional and FIFA confirmation of the final 26 is due ahead of the June 1 deadline.
Reporting: Olympics.com, May 21, 2026.