Mohamed Salah Set to Captain Egypt at World Cup

Mohamed Salah is set to captain Egypt at the upcoming FIFA World Cup after being named in the country’s provisional squad for the tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

The 33-year-old forward will leave Liverpool F.C. at the end of the season following a nine-year spell at the club. Salah heads into the World Cup with 67 goals in 115 appearances for Egypt.

He is joined in the squad by Omar Marmoush of Manchester City F.C. and highly rated 18-year-old forward Hamza Abdelkarim, who currently plays for FC Barcelona Juvenil A.

However, Mostafa Mohamed has been omitted from the squad announced by head coach Hossam Hassan.

Egypt will play a friendly against Russia in Cairo on 28 May before Hassan trims the squad down to FIFA’s required 26-player limit.

Another high-profile warm-up match against Brazil is scheduled for 6 June in Cleveland.

Drawn in Group G, Egypt will face Belgium on 15 June, New Zealand on 22 June and Iran on 27 June.

The expanded 48-team World Cup tournament will run from 11 June to 19 July across the United States, Canada and Mexico.