Mohamed Salah is set to lead Egypt as captain at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, after being included in a preliminary 27-man squad assembled by head coach Hossam Hassan.

The 33-year-old forward, who will end his nine-year stay at Liverpool when the season concludes, has scored 67 goals in 115 appearances for the Pharaohs — making him their most important attacking threat heading into the tournament.

Salah will be joined in the squad by Manchester City winger Omar Marmoush and uncapped 18-year-old Hamza Abdelkarim, a forward who represents Barcelona's Under-19 side. The inclusion of Abdelkarim signals Hassan's willingness to blood promising youth talent on the biggest stage.

Nantes forward Mostafa Mohamed is a notable absentee from the preliminary selection. Hassan must trim the group to the FIFA-mandated 26 players, with one squad member to be released following a friendly against Russia in Cairo on 28 May.

Warm-up fixtures and group stage opponents

Before the tournament begins, Egypt face Brazil in a friendly in Cleveland on 6 June — a stern examination of their readiness ahead of a demanding group stage.

The Pharaohs were drawn in Group G and will open their World Cup campaign against Belgium on 15 June, before taking on New Zealand on 22 June and Iran on 27 June.

The expanded 48-team World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, runs from 11 June to 19 July.

Egypt's preliminary squad in full

Goalkeepers: Mohamed El Shenawy (Al Ahly), Mostafa Shobeir (Al Ahly), El Mahdi Soliman (Zamalek), Mohamed Alaa (El Gouna).

Defenders: Mohamed Hany (Al Ahly), Tarek Alaa (Zed), Hamdy Fathy (Al Wakrah), Rami Rabia (Al Ain), Yasser Ibrahim (Al Ahly), Hossam Abdelmaguid (Zamalek), Mohamed Abdelmonemn (Nice), Ahmed Fatouh (Zamalek), Karim Hafez (Pyramids).

Midfielders: Marwan Ateya (Al Ahly), Mohanad Lasheen (Pyramids), Nabil Emad (Al Najma), Mahmoud Saber (Zed), Ahmed Zizo (Al Ahly), Emam Ashour (Al Ahly), Mostafa Ziko (Pyramids), Mahmoud Trezeguet (Al Ahly), Ibrahim Adel (Nordsjaelland), Haissem Hassan (Real Ovideo).

Forwards: Omar Marmoush (Manchester City), Mohamed Salah (Liverpool), Aqtay Abdallah (Enppi), Hamza Abdelkarim (Barcelona).