2026 World Cup: Mo Salah, Egypt dancing back to Seattle and could stay

by · The Seattle Times

VANCOUVER, B.C. — Mohamed Salah danced. First on the field for nearly 90 minutes. Then on the streets.

Once he was done helping lead Egypt to its first FIFA Men’s World Cup victory on Sunday night, one of the best African players of all-time joined his teammates in celebrating on the streets of Vancouver. By the time the party wrapped, Salah was hoisted on the shoulders of his teammates as a boombox played and fans surrounded the barricades around the team bus.

There was reason to celebrate. Egypt and Salah had never experienced this kind of joy before, at least on the stage of the World Cup. And they could be in line for a bigger party on Friday night back in Seattle with Egypt in control of Group G and the opportunity to advance to the knockout rounds for the first time in its history.

“It’s a great feeling for all of us. It’s a great achievement. I’ve said before, we do our best in the tournament to make people happy in Egypt and I think they are,” Salah said late Sunday night.

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In the context of popularity, there is no individual player during the tournament playing in Seattle — for now — that carries a bigger presence internationally than Salah. The red colors of the Egyptian jersey carrying his name on the back blends nicely with the countless red Liverpool jerseys that flooded Seattle Stadium last Monday and again on Sunday night in Vancouver.

In Seattle and Vancouver, there was a crescendo of anticipation from the overwhelmingly partisan Egyptian fans every time the ball came to Salah’s feet. In the same way Argentine fans show up to see Lionel Messi, Portugal fans for Cristiano Ronaldo, or fans of France when Kylian Mbappé makes a run, the Egyptians want to see Salah with the ball and the chance to do something special.

Salah had a muted debut to this World Cup during the 1-1 draw against Belgium on Monday in Seattle, but he rewarded all those fans who wanted to see the player nicknamed the “Egyptian King” create that special moment on Sunday night.

Salah’s third career World Cup goal broke a 1-1 tie and he assisted off a corner kick on that Trézéguet headed in for the goal that gave Egypt a 3-1 victory over New Zealand. Salah’s goal was a fluid play with a deft pass, a quick, darting move in the penalty area to find space and a shot off his left foot before anyone could react. Simple, but effective at a world-class level.

“He can pop up with a goal at any time and he showed it there,” New Zealand’s Chris Wood said.

Depending on the source, Salah’s goal against New Zealand was somewhere around the 400th of his career between national team and club matches. And it came after a difficult club season where he fell out of favor at Liverpool and decided to leave the club after nine seasons.  

In 2024-25, Salah scored 29 goals in the Premier League. Last season, he scored just seven. Asked about the difficulty of this past season, Salah instead kept the focus on the present and his efforts in trying to lift the national team.

“I’ve been on the national team for 14 years. I always give my best for the national team and try and give my experience for the younger players to help them achieve big things,” Salah said.

He could help Egypt with an accomplishment never achieved in just a few days.

The path to the knockout stages for the first time in Egypt’s history is now in its hands. A result — a win or a draw will do — against Iran on Friday night in Seattle will clinch a spot in the knockout rounds for the Pharaohs.

If Egypt is able to beat Iran then whatever happens in the match between Belgium and New Zealand being played simultaneously in Vancouver won’t matter. Egypt would win the group and be back in Seattle for the round of 32 match on July 1.

While he will always be revered with legendary status at Liverpool, getting Egypt to the knockout stages would put Salah and his teammates on an even higher pedestal in their home country.

“I told them in the huddle we can write history today and also the next game,” Salah said. “If we qualify first in the group, it will be remembered for years to come.”