Egypt has announced its squad for the friendlies against Saudi Arabia on March 27 and Spain on March 31, and the big news is the absence of Mohamed Salah. The Liverpool forward, who was unable to play against Brighton this weekend, has been ruled out with an injury. It is a significant setback for a team that will look to Manchester City’s Omar Marmoush as its main figurehead in these World Cup warm-up matches, including the one against Spain in Barcelona.

The other major new faces in the squad are Oviedo winger Haissem Hassan and Zamalek striker Nasser Mansy. Both will have the chance to impress against Saudi Arabia and Spain with just three months to go before the World Cup.

Salah’s absence, in any case, is a considerable blow for the Egyptian national team, which will face Belgium, New Zealand and Iran in the first phase of the World Cup.

Egypt roster for World Cup 2026 friendlies

Goalkeepers: Mohamed El Shenawy, Mostafa Shobeir, Mahdi Soliman, Mohamed Alaa.

Defenders: Mohamed Hany, Tarek Alaa, Rami Rabia, Mohamed Abdelmonem, Yasser Ibrahim, Hossam Abdelmaguid, Khaled Sobhy, Ahmed Fattouh, Ahmed Nabil Koka.

Midfielders: Hamdi Fathi, Marwan Attia, Mohannad Lasheen, Mahmoud Saber, Ahmed Sayed Zizo, Emam Ashour, Mahmoud Hassan Trezeguet, Omar Marmoush, Ibrahim Adel, Haissem Hassan, Islam Issa.

Forwards: Mostafa Mohamed, Nasser Mansy.

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