Salah Leads Egypt's Quest for Maiden World Cup Victory

Egypt's football legacy presents a striking contradiction: the nation boasts seven African Cup of Nations titles, yet has never won a match at the FIFA World Cup. The Pharaohs were the first African nation to compete in the tournament in 1934, but across three previous World Cup appearances in 1934, 1990, and 2018, they managed only two draws while suffering five defeats.

Mohamed Salah will carry Egyptian hopes into the 2026 World Cup after concluding a storied nine-year tenure at Liverpool. During his time at Anfield, the 33-year-old attained legendary status, capturing the English Premier League title twice—in 2020 and 2025—alongside the Champions League crown in 2019.

Salah's previous World Cup appearance came during the 2018 tournament in Russia under trying circumstances. He had sustained a severe shoulder injury during the Champions League final while playing for Liverpool against Real Madrid, an incident involving a challenge from Sergio Ramos of the Spanish club.

As the upcoming World Cup approaches, Salah faces a fresh challenge. A muscle injury incurred last April sidelined him from Dutch coach Arne Slot's squad for a period, with reports suggesting underlying tensions between the player and manager developed throughout the season.