Egypt coach Hassan dismisses Salah rift rumours after captain's surprise substitution in World Cup draw with Belgium

Egypt coach Hossam Hassan has moved to quash reports of a rift with Mohamed Salah after substituting the national captain in the 76th minute of a 1-1 draw with Belgium in their 2026 World Cup group-stage opener.

Salah had set up Emam Ashour’s equaliser before Hassan withdrew him in favour of highly rated Barcelona teenager Hamza Abdelkarim, with the game finely poised. The decision to remove Egypt’s talisman while the score was level prompted immediate speculation about the state of the relationship between coach and player.

Hassan was direct in his rebuttal. “Salah is an important player for our squad, and the 26 players who are here with me are very important,” he said. “Every player who has worked with me knows I deal with them in a professional manner. I do not have favourites.”

The coach went further in defending Salah’s character and his acceptance of tactical decisions. “He has a lot of discipline and is a role model. If he starts or if he gets substituted, it’s fine. It is his role as a player. He’s the first player that would also say yes to my decisions as a technical director.”

Salah scored nine goals as Egypt secured their place at the World Cup finals for the fourth time, and Hassan’s squad will be eager to build on that momentum. Egypt have never won a World Cup match, and that record remains intact after the Belgium stalemate.

The draw leaves Group G tightly contested. New Zealand and Iran also shared the points in a 2-2 opener, meaning all four sides sit on one point heading into the second round of fixtures. Egypt face New Zealand at BC Place on Sunday, a game Hassan framed as a must-win.

“We drew in the first match and we want to win and secure these points,” he said. “This is our ambition — for Egyptian football and for African football as well. We are representing all of these people and we really hope to perform.”