Overview
- Mohamed Salah asked to be substituted during Egypt’s 1-1 draw with Iran on June 27 and was later seen icing his left hamstring.
- The Egyptian Football Association said scans confirmed a hamstring strain and team doctor Mohamed Abou El Ela said Salah has started a treatment programme.
- Coach Hossam Hassan has expressed public optimism that Salah will recover, but the medical statement made him a doubt for the July 3 last‑32 tie in Dallas.
- Egypt also lost regular left back Ahmed Fatouh to a hamstring tear that the EFA says is unlikely to heal in time, while centre back Mohamed Abdelmonem is training through an ankle bruise.
- The timing matters because this is Egypt’s first advance to the World Cup knockouts and the short turnaround increases the chance Australia will prepare contingency plans if Salah cannot play.