Mohamed Salah will lead Egypt onto the pitch in Seattle on June 15 for a Group G opener against Belgium. It also happens to be his 34th birthday, which is either poetic or cruel depending on how the match goes.
The Liverpool forward is returning from a hamstring injury that hampered his club form late last season, adding a layer of uncertainty to what many expect could be his final World Cup appearance. For Egypt, a nation that has never won a World Cup match in seven attempts across three tournaments, the stakes extend well beyond one player’s farewell tour.
Egypt’s World Cup drought meets Belgium’s golden generation
Egypt’s record at the World Cup reads like a cautionary tale about hope. Zero wins in seven matches across their entire history in the tournament.
Belgium fields Kevin De Bruyne, and the 3 p.m. ET kickoff in Seattle will pit two teams at very different stages of their competitive arcs against each other.
