Salah starts for Egypt against Australia

The captain remained a doubt this week despite participating in training

Football - FIFA World Cup 2026 - Egypt Training - Southern Methodist University, Dallas, Texas, US - Jul 2, 2026 Egypt's Mohamed Salah during training IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters/Maria Lysaker

Mohamed Salah has recovered from a hamstring strain and been included in Egypt’s line-up to take on an unchanged Australia in the World Cup round of 32 on Friday.

● Salah had been a doubt this week although he did take part in training in the build-up to the match.

● Omar Marmoush returns to the starting team up front alongside Salah in place of Mahmoud Trezeguet.

● Left back Ahmed Fatouh and central defender Mohamed Abdelmonem miss out through injury, with Karim Hafez and Yasser Ibrahim taking their places.

● Hamdy Fathy has recovered from injury and will sit in front of the back four. Marawan Attia slots into the midfield.

● The Australians keep the same side that drew with Paraguay in their final group game, having made six changes going into that match.

● Experienced attacker Mathew Leckie is still sidelined due to injury.

Teams

Australia: Patrick Beach, Alessandro Circati, Jordan Bos, Connor Metcalfe, Aiden O'Neill, Aziz Behich, Nestory Irankunda, Harry Souttar, Cristian Volpato, Jackson Irvine, Lucas Herrington

Egypt: Mostafa Shobeir, Mohamed Hany, Yasser Ibrahim, Rami Rabia, Karim Hafez, Hamdy Fathy, Marawan Attia, Mostafa Zico, Emam Ashour, Mohamed Salah, Omar Marmoush