World Cup 2026: The duo behind Egypt's attacking strength

Mohamed Salah is undoubtedly still the most prominent figure in Egyptian football. With over 60 goals for the national team and numerous major club honors, Salah continues to be the top icon of the "Pharaohs". Partnering with Salah, Omar Marmoush brings speed, technique, and game-changing ability, making Egypt's attack far more formidable. Under the guidance of Mohamed Salah and Omar Marmoush, Egypt won 8 out of 10 qualifying matches, scoring 20 goals and conceding only 2. Therefore, experts believe the attack will be Egypt's greatest hope at the 2026 World Cup.

A surprising omission from the squad is striker Mostafa Mohamed. Although a familiar name for the national team, the Nantes (France) player was not called up after an unimpressive season with only 4 goals in 24 matches, as the French club was relegated from Ligue 1. In contrast, Hamza Abdelkarim—a promising young talent who has never played for the senior national team and currently features for Barcelona's U19 side—has surprisingly earned a spot due to his outstanding form.

According to the plan, the Egyptian national team will trim the squad to 26 players as per FIFA regulations after a friendly against Russia on May 28 in Cairo. Before entering the group stage of the 2026 World Cup, the team will have "one more test" when they face Brazil in Cleveland, USA on June 6.

With a well-balanced squad and several stars in top form, Egypt is expected to spring a surprise in Group G of the 2026 World Cup, where they will compete with Belgium, Iran, and New Zealand for a spot in the knockout stage.