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“If he starts… or if he comes in as a substitute, that’s fine – it’s his role as a player,” said Egypt coach Hossam Hassan.
Updated on 21 Jun 2026
Egypt coach Hossam Hassan has dismissed the unrest surrounding star Mohamed Salah, insisting there are no problems in the team as they prepare to face New Zealand in their crucial World Cup Group G match at BC Place, Vancouver.
“Salah is an important player in our team, and the 26 players with me are very important,” Hassan told reporters on Sunday.
“Any player who has worked with me knows that I am professional. I have no preferences.”
Salah, 34, scored nine goals in qualifying and assisted Emam Ashour in the opening game against Belgium. He was replaced in the 76th minute of the 1-1 draw in Seattle, with young star Hamza Abdelkarim coming on.
New Zealand opened their campaign and shared the points by drawing 2-2 with Iran in Los Angeles, leaving the group in good shape ahead of Sunday’s summit.
Hassan insisted that everything is fine in the Egyptian camp.
“Salah is a great player who helps his teammates. He has a lot of discipline and is a role model,” he said.
“If he starts… or comes in as a substitute, that’s fine, it’s his responsibility as a player. Everyone knows that I’m working for the benefit of the team and the whole world.
“Rumors are being spread about stars, about players, about teams. But Salah is a very reserved person,” he added.
“He plays with us. He is the first player who will accept my decisions as a director. So I think tomorrow he will have hope.”
Egypt and New Zealand are both looking for their first World Cup win to boost their chances of reaching the finals. The Egyptians are appearing in their fourth finals.
“We want to give the best,” Hassan said.
“We want to show that we have talent, not as something new, but as something that African teams have had as a tradition throughout the generations of African footballers, for us and for international football.
“We participated in the first game, and we want to win and defend these points. This is our desire for tomorrow. This is the desire of the Egyptian people, Egyptian football and African football. We represent all these people, and we hope to do well.”
