Mohamed Salah could feature for Egypt against Australia, but his starting status remains unclear ahead of Friday’s Round of 32 match. (Image via Getty)Egypt’s biggest question before Friday’s FIFA World Cup Round of 32 match against Australia is not tactical. It is Mohamed Salah.The Egypt captain is fit enough to play, but his place in the starting lineup remains unclear after the hamstring strain he suffered in the 1-1 draw against Iran. Reuters reported that Egypt coach Hossam Hassan expects Salah to play some role against Australia, but stopped short of confirming a start.Mohamed Salah is available against Australia, but Egypt are still holding back on the starting callThis is no longer a story about whether Salah will make the squad. He will. The real issue is how much Egypt can ask of him.Hassan said Salah returned to partial training on Wednesday after hurting his hamstring against Iran. That is the good news for Egypt. The caution in the rest of Hassan’s update tells the fuller story. He made it clear he will not push his star forward into a bigger role than his body can handle.“We look forward to him playing tomorrow, but we’re not sure if he’s going to be in the starting lineup.”That line matters because it cuts through the noise. Salah is not ruled out. He is also not locked in as a starter. Egypt want him available, but they do not want to lose him inside the match.That makes this a live decision heading into kickoff. ABC reported Egypt planned to give Salah until the last moment to prove his fitness, while the Guardian reported Hassan had already confirmed the forward was fit enough to play. Both can be true. He can be fit enough to feature and still not be fit enough for 90 minutes.Australia are preparing for both versions of this game. One has Salah in the starting XI. The other has him waiting for the right moment off the bench.Mohamed Salah Injury Update: What happened to Mohamed Salah before the Australia vs Egypt FIFA World Cup knockout matchSalah suffered the injury in Egypt’s final group-stage game against Iran. Reuters reported that he asked to come off after straining his hamstring, and the issue has hung over Egypt’s preparation ever since.The timing is strenuous because Salah has already shaped Egypt’s tournament. He has scored once in the competition, and the Guardian reported he also created two more goals in the group stage. Egypt finished second in Group G and reached the knockout rounds for the first time.That is why this decision carries so much weight. Egypt are not deciding whether to use a role player. They are deciding how much to trust the man their attack runs through.Hassan has talked like a coach trying to balance urgency and restraint. He praised Salah again before the match and made it clear the player wants to contribute. But wanting to play and being ready to start are not the same thing.Australia coach Tony Popovic also did not pretend this was a minor detail. “We’ve prepared for both scenarios, and we’ll see tomorrow.”Australia cannot build a plan around wishful thinking. If Salah starts, they need to deal with Egypt’s most dangerous final-third player from the opening whistle. If he comes off the bench, they need to survive a different kind of problem late.When to watch Australia vs Egypt in the FIFA World Cup Round of 32Australia and Egypt will meet in the FIFA World Cup Round of 32 on Friday, July 3. The match is scheduled to kick off at 2 p.m. ET.The game will be played at Dallas Stadium in Arlington, Texas. It is one of the final Round of 32 matches on the schedule and carries real weight beyond just a place in the next round. Neither Australia nor Egypt has ever won a World Cup knockout match, so this one guarantees a first for somebody.For Egypt, the spotlight stays on Mohamed Salah after his recent hamstring issue. For Australia, the pressure is different. The Socceroos are trying to turn a solid group-stage run into a real knockout breakthrough.MatchDateTimeVenueRoundAustralia vs EgyptFriday, July 3, 20262 p.m. ETDallas Stadium, Arlington, TexasRound of 32How to watch Australia vs Egypt live on TV in the FIFA World Cup Round of 32Fans watching on television in the United States can catch Australia vs. Egypt live on FOX.That makes this a straightforward watch for viewers who already have access to FOX through cable, satellite, or a live TV package. It is also one of the bigger fixtures on Friday’s World Cup slate because of the Salah injury question and the fact that the winner moves into the Round of 16.Here are the main TV broadcast options by region:Country/regionTV channel or broadcasterIndiaUnite8 Sports 1, Unite8 Sports 1 HD, Unite8 Sports 2, Unite8 Sports 2 HDUnited StatesFOXMexicoTelevisaUnivision, TV AztecaCanadaTSN, CTV, RDSAustraliaSBSBangladeshBTV, Somoy TV, T SportsEgypt/MENAbeIN SportsHow to stream Australia vs Egypt live online in the FIFA World Cup Round of 32Australia vs. Egypt will also be available to stream live on FOX One.That is the simplest streaming option for viewers who want to watch on a phone, tablet, laptop, or smart TV instead of traditional television. FOX’s match page also lists the game as available through its digital platforms, which gives viewers another route if they are not watching through standard TV.Country/regionLive streaming platformIndiaZEE5 app and websiteUnited StatesFOX One, FOX Sports appBangladeshToffee, Bioscope+, My RobiAustraliaSBS On DemandEgypt/MENATOD by beIN; Talabat Pro bundle where availableMexicoViX/TUDN En Vivo, Azteca Deportes En VivoCanadaTSN, CTV, RDS, and Crave platformsSo, will Mohamed Salah play today vs Australia? Yes, all signs point to him featuring in some capacity. But if the question is whether he will start, Egypt are still refusing to give a clean yes.