Mohamed Salah's World Cup dream in jeopardy as ex-Liverpool star faces injury wait

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Mohamed Salah faces a nervous wait to find out whether he can play in Egypt's first ever knockout game at the World Cup, with the former Liverpool star an injury doubtMohamed Salah is a doubt for Egypt heading into the knockout stages of the World Cup(Image: Getty Images)Mohamed Salah’s dream of leading Egypt into the World Cup knockout stages could be in jeopardy, with the former Liverpool star an injury doubt for his country’s next game at the tournament.Salah has already captained the Pharaohs to a first-ever World Cup win, having scored in the 3-1 win over New Zealand, while he has also become the first player to lead Egypt past the first stage of the tournament.His involvement in the last-32 tie against Australia on Friday is in serious doubt though, with the 34-year-old having picked up a hamstring injury during Egypt’s final group game against Iran.Salah had to be substituted during the 1-1 draw, which saw Egypt go through behind Group G winner Belgium, with subsequent scans confirming a hamstring strain, according to BBC Sport.The winger also struggled with a hamstring problem towards the end of his final season with Liverpool, although he did manage to make a return for the Reds’ final two games of the campaign against Aston Villa and Brentford.It would be a cruel blow were Salah forced to miss his country’s first knockout game, with Egypt’s talisman having been eyeing up more history at the World Cup.“It’s incredible. I don’t know how to express it in words,” Salah said after the win over New Zealand.Mohamed Salah was substituted against Iran after picking up a hamstring injury(Image: Getty Images)“It’s a great achievement for all the players, for the staff, so hopefully we can carry on like this in the group, and we can write history and qualify – and in years to come it will be remembered as one the best achievements in the history [of Egyptian football].”Egypt boss Hossam Hassan did play down the severity of the injury immediately after his side’s draw with Iran, and seemed confident that his captain would be able to play against Australia."I spoke with Salah and, God willing, the injury doesn't seem serious," Hassan said."He assured me it would be fine, that it's not a serious injury."Get Liverpool's new 2026/27 home kitThis article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it.

Learn moreLiverpool FC have launched their new home kit for the 2026/27, inspired by iconic adidas strip worn during the club's 1989/90 title-winning campaign.Salah does of course have a big decision awaiting on his future following his involvement at this year’s World Cup, with the winger looking for a new club after bringing down the curtain on his time at Liverpool.Although one of his international teammates did suggest that he could yet end up remaining at Anfield, the Reds have no plans to make a U-turn after an agreement was reached for the final year of Salah’s contract to be waived.And his agent, Ramy Abbas Issa, has indicated that he and his client are in no rush to find a new team, having posted on social media earlier this month: “Mohamed is doing perfectly fine and neither he nor I prefer to discuss sensitive future plans with people not involved in them.“Both he and I are very private about these things. Yes, people may ask and they may get a standard polite response but that’s about it.”