Egypt coach Hossam Hassan has confirmed that star forward Mohamed Salah will undergo assessment after he requested to be substituted during Egypt's 1-1 draw with Iran on June 27, 2026, in Seattle. The result secured Egypt's first-ever qualification for the knockout stages of a FIFA World Cup.
Salah Substituted Early in Second Half
Salah, Egypt's captain and all-time leading scorer, was replaced 12 minutes into the second half after signaling to the bench. Speaking to beIN Sports, as quoted by Reuters, Hossam said, "He asked to come off. If a player asks to be substituted, it means he felt something." The coach added, "We will make sure what the problem is. We will assess him."
The 33-year-old has been instrumental in Egypt's campaign, scoring twice in the group stage. His fitness will be crucial as Egypt prepares to face Australia in the round of 32 on Friday.
Multiple Injury Concerns for Egypt
Left-back Ahmed Fatouh also suffered an injury during the match and will be evaluated. Midfielder Hamdi Fathi missed the Iran clash but Hossam expressed optimism about his recovery for the knockout match. "We have warriors. I have Egyptian players who are worthy of the trust placed in them," Hossam said, emphasizing his confidence in the squad depth. "I do not worry about missing players. I have complete confidence in everyone in this squad. If I worried every time we had an injury, then I would not be fit to coach the Egypt national team."
Egypt's Historic Knockout Qualification
Egypt finished second in Group H with four points, behind Belgium on goal difference, after a win, a draw, and a loss. The draw against Iran was enough to advance, marking the first time Egypt has progressed beyond the group stage in World Cup history. Hossam said, "We will prepare ourselves, work hard and do everything we can for what is coming next."
Match Highlights: Egypt vs Iran
Egypt took the lead in the first half when Mahmoud Sabre converted from close range after Salah's deflected effort was parried by goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand. Iran had a golden chance to equalize in the ninth minute when Mehdi Taremi was brought down by Mohamed Abdelmonem, but goalkeeper Mostafa Shobeir saved the resulting penalty. Shobeir made another key save to deny Milad Mohammadi before Iran eventually leveled through Ramin Rezaeian, who reacted quickest to a loose ball from a tight angle.
After halftime, Egypt controlled possession for long spells, managing the game while aware that Belgium's result against New Zealand could affect their final group position. Iran pushed hard for a winner late in the game, but a stoppage-time goal was ruled out for offside following a VAR review. Shobeir then made another crucial save to deny Saeid Ezatolahi, ensuring Egypt held on for a vital point and progression.
Iran Still in Contention
Iran remains in contention for a place in the knockout rounds as one of the best third-placed teams. They have three points after drawing all their matches. The draw leaves them dependent on results from other groups to advance.
