Mohamed Salah's fitness status has become the biggest talking point for Egypt's national team just hours before their highly anticipated Round of 32 clash against Australia at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Head coach Hossam Hassan's latest remarks have sparked widespread debate and anticipation, turning the Pharaohs captain's potential involvement into one of the tournament's most intriguing storylines.

During the pre-match press conference, Hossam Hassan deliberately avoided giving a definitive answer regarding Salah's place in the starting lineup. Instead, he confirmed that the Liverpool star would be included in the matchday squad, while leaving the final decision on whether he will start or come off the bench until the final moments before kickoff.

Uncertainty Surrounding Salah

Mohamed Salah suffered muscle fatigue during Egypt's final group-stage match against Iran, prompting the national team's medical staff to place him on an intensive treatment and rehabilitation program over the past few days. The Egyptian captain has since returned to team training, with encouraging signs regarding his physical condition.

Although Hossam Hassan confirmed Salah's strong desire to participate, he stressed that he would not take any risks unless the player was fully fit. His comments have opened the door to various interpretations, with some believing that the coaching staff is simply protecting their star player from any potential setback, while others view the remarks as a tactical move designed to disrupt Australia's preparations.

Hossam Hassan also emphasized Salah's importance within the national team setup, describing him as one of the world's finest players. He noted that the tactical adjustments made to Salah's role in recent months have increased his attacking threat and effectiveness in front of goal, while reiterating that Egypt's success depends on a collective system rather than any individual player.

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Hossam Hassan Bets on Discipline

The Egypt coach acknowledged that the clash against Australia will be far from easy, given the Socceroos' extensive World Cup experience, but expressed complete confidence in his players' ability to handle the pressure and achieve another historic milestone.

Hossam Hassan also dismissed concerns over Australia's physical advantages, arguing that Egypt has previously faced teams with similar physical attributes and that technical quality and tactical organization ultimately determine success on the pitch rather than physical strength alone.

He further revealed that the coaching staff has spent recent days studying Australia's strengths extensively, particularly their effectiveness from set pieces and aerial duels, while highlighting Egypt's ability to deal with such challenges throughout their World Cup campaign.

Egypt enters the Australia clash carrying the hopes of millions of fans after securing a historic place in the knockout stages for the first time by finishing second in Group G with five points, following a victory over New Zealand and draws against Belgium and Iran.

Meanwhile, Australia advanced to the Round of 32 after finishing second in Group D with four points, setting up a showdown that appears impossible to predict. Yet one question continues to dominate discussions across Egypt: will Mohamed Salah lead the Pharaohs from the opening whistle, or will Hossam Hassan keep his biggest weapon in reserve until the perfect moment?