One of Australia's most diehard football-loving barbers turned 66 this week — a fitting number given one of Liverpool's greatest right-backs, Trent Alexander-Arnold, famously wore the Number 66 shirt.But it isn't the 66 that belongs to Sydney barber Kleames Dawod's favourite player in red — it's the Egyptian king Mohamed Salah.Reflecting on a massive match: Liverpool superfan Kleames Dawod is all smiles in his Sydney barber shop, proudly donning his ultimate hero Mohamed Salah before the Socceroos take on Egypt. Source: SBS News / Christopher TanAfter moving from Iraq to Australia in 1992, Dawod fulfilled a lifelong dream by opening his own barber shop in Chatswood.Inside the 30-year-old shop is a tribute to the English giants.News that makes senseYour trusted source for staying up-to-date with the world around you. Get free daily news updates and analysis, straight to your inbox.Signed Liverpool jerseys, footballs, magazines, photographs, scarves and other memorabilia cover almost every inch of wall space."If there's no football, there would be, for me, no life, to be honest. It is everything to me," Dawod told SBS News.Stacks of football magazines, featuring Liverpool star Mohamed Salah on the cover, sit waiting for customers inside Kleames Dawod's Chatswood barber shop ahead of the Socceroos' World Cup match against Egypt. Source: SBS News / Christopher TanThis weekend, his allegiance to his beloved Liverpool will be put to the test when Egypt take on Australia in the FIFA World Cup round of 32 at 4am on Saturday."Look, to be honest, Australia all the way," he said. "But on the other hand, we love Salah. Even if he scores a goal, we would be proud of that. But I would like to see the result belong to Australia."His best friend, Michael Shedrinsky, who had come in for a routine haircut, also weighed in."To me, Mohamed Salah is number one," he said.Kleames Dawod (right) gives his longtime friend Michael Shedrinsky (left) a haircut inside his Liverpool-themed barbershop in Sydney. Source: SBS News / Christopher Tan"His technique is great, but what I really admire is his big heart. He helps the people in his village, helps everyone, and is just a very nice person."Salah featured in all of Egypt's group-stage matches at the FIFA World Cup but was substituted in the 57th minute of their final game against Iran with a hamstring strain.The Pharoah's skipper is Egypt's all-time top goalscorer at the FIFA World Cup, with three goals.The 34-year-old, Liverpool's all-time leading Premier League goalscorer, did not train with his teammates in Spokane on Monday but returned to part of the session the following day.In a social media post, the Egyptian Football Association said he "participated in part of the session" and teased his return with footage of Salah moving comfortably alongside the audio: "The King is back."Socceroos assistant coach Mile Jedinak was still a player when the two nations last met in 2010, a friendly Australia lost 3-0.Jedinak said the Socceroos are well aware of Egypt's biggest star, but noted there are other players to be wary of, including Manchester City striker Omar Marmoush."We are looking at them as a collective," he said."We obviously do our analysis on the individuals as well, but they have threats all over the park."They've got guys playing at a very high level, especially one who's done it for a very long time."After Tuesday's shock penalty shootout exits of European heavyweights Germany and the Netherlands, spot kicks have become a priority at Socceroos training.Jedinak said the focus was on building familiarity and identifying which players were most comfortable in those high-pressure situations.A shelf of Liverpool FC memorabilia, including a figurine of Mohamed Salah, reflects Kleames Dawod's lifelong passion for the club inside his Sydney barbershop. Source: SBS News / Christopher Tan'Win-win scenario'Mohamed Abdelrahman, president of the community group Egyptian Youth Australia, said the community was celebrating the "historic moment" after Egypt qualified for the knockout stage of a World Cup for the first time.All the FIFA World Cup 2026 coverage on our World Cup pageHow to watch the FIFA World Cup 2026 on SBSWatch all 104 matches of the FIFA World Cup 2026 at our On Demand hub"It’s a big opportunity to bring the whole community together in such a fantastic World Cup," he told SBS News."It’s giving hope for young Egyptians that in the future they can do something similar."Source: SuppliedThe occasion is extra special for Abdelrahman, who has played football in both Egypt and Australia and has been a youth coach in the Sydney Super League."Soccer is the number one sport for all Egyptians around the world," he said.He said watch parties were planned in western Sydney, home to a large proportion of Australia's Egyptian community, including at Egyptian cafes and a community centre. But regardless of the result, he said the match was a "win-win". "If Socceroos win, we celebrate; if Egypt win, we celebrate," he said. "The kids started making a Socceroos' and Egyptian Pharaohs' flag divided in the middle." Egyptian Youth Australia is a community organisation that aims to connect young Egyptian Australians through sport and cultural events, and to help migrants familiarise themselves with Australian culture. According to the 2021 Census, more than 43,000 Egyptian-born people resided in Australia, the majority in Sydney and Melbourne. 'The motivation is there'Abdelrahman said Salah was a hero to Egyptians around the world. While Australian fans will be hoping he doesn't take the field, Socceroos defender Alessandro Circati says he is relishing the opportunity to face Salah."It's my favourite thing to play against good players," the 22-year-old said.The fixture marks the third time the Socceroos have reached the knockout stage of a World Cup, having progressed to the Round of 16 in 2006 and 2022.But they have yet to win a knockout match, something Circati said they hope to change come Saturday. "I don't think anyone needs a bit of motivation for these sort of games," he said."The motivation is there on an individual level and on a collective level."It would be the first knockout game Australia's ever won, so I don't think there's need for any motivation really. It's a moment to create history, to create something Australia won't forget as a nation."Live sites across the country will be playing the match. Pubs in NSW, Queensland and Victoria have also been approved for extended trading hours. Back at the Chatswood barber shop, the equation is simple for Kleames."If Salah doesn't play, Australia will win," he said. "He is 60 to 70 per cent of the team when he plays for Egypt. He's a superstar for them."On match day, Kleames plans to open the shop early, put on breakfast and invite friends over to watch the game together.You can watch all 104 matches of the FIFA World Cup 2026™ live, free and exclusive on SBS, SBS VICELAND and SBS On Demand.For the latest from SBS News, download our app and subscribe to our newsletter.