“It doesn’t matter if he starts or if he comes in as a substitute, that’s his role as a player,” Egypt coach Hossam Hassan said.
Published June 21, 2026
Egypt coach Hossam Hassan has dismissed rumors of unrest regarding talisman Mohamed Salah, insisting there were no problems within his squad as they prepare to face New Zealand in a crucial World Cup Group G match at Vancouver’s BC Place.
“Salah is an important player for our team and the 26 players who are here with me are very important,” Hassan told reporters on Sunday.
“All the players who have worked with me know that I deal with them in a professional manner. I don’t have a favorite player.”
Salah, 34, scored nine goals in qualifying and provided an assist for Imam Ashour in the first match against Belgium. He was substituted in the 76th minute of the 1-1 draw in Seattle, with highly-rated teenager Hamza Abdelkarim coming on as a substitute.
New Zealand also shared the points with Iran in a 2-2 draw in Los Angeles, leaving them in good shape for Sunday’s match.
Hassan insisted that everything was going well in the Egyptian camp.
“Salah is a great player who helps his teammates. He is disciplined and a role model.”
“If he starts or is substituted, that’s fine. That’s his role as a player. Everyone knows that I work in the interests of the team and the national team.
“There are rumors going around about stars, about players, about teams. But Salah is a very disciplined person,” he added.
“He is training with us. He is the first player who has said yes to my decision as technical director. So I think tomorrow will be very positive.”
Egypt and New Zealand are both aiming for their first World Cup win to improve their chances of qualifying for the knockout stages. The Egyptians will reach the final for the fourth time.
“We want to present something very positive,” Hassan said.
“We want to show that we have talent, not as something new, but as something that the African national team has always had as a tradition for us and for international football, through generations of African footballers.
“We drew in the first match, but we want to win and secure points. This is our ambition for tomorrow. This is the ambition of the Egyptian people, Egyptian football and African football as well. We represent all these people and we really want to perform.”
