Egypt coach Hossam Hassan insists nothing will be left to chance as his side prepare to face Iran in their concluding group game on Saturday, with the matchup serving as a decisive step toward the 2026 World Cup knockout rounds.
Speaking ahead of the contest, Hassan said Egypt—led by in-form forward Mo Salah—will aim to secure a win and take maximum points in order to advance from Group G.
“All respect to the Iranian national team. They are among the strongest sides in Asia and they sit in a very high place in the world rankings. We respect every opponent, just as we did in our previous two matches,” Hassan told reporters on Friday. “We have big ambitions, and our objective is to secure qualification for the second round. The players are fully locked in on this game.”
Hassan added that the focus in Seattle is firmly on sealing progression to the Round of 32 when Egypt take on Iran in the group finale. He also noted that Salah, the team’s captain, is closing in on Egypt’s all-time record for international goals.
For Egypt, a victory over Iran would guarantee a place in the knockout phase for the first time in the country’s World Cup history. It would build on a standout tournament so far, including the Pharaohs’ first-ever World Cup triumph—a 3-1 comeback win against New Zealand. The result of Saturday’s match, alongside the other Group G game between Belgium and New Zealand taking place at the same time, will determine who finishes first in the group.
Hassan also pointed to the tactical freedom granted to Salah as a key reason behind the forward’s improved output at the tournament.
“Right now, it feels like a new version of Mo Salah,” Hassan said. “He is operating in a new role, and he plays with a lot of freedom—very creatively. There is a strong relationship between us based on mutual respect. Salah is a smart player with huge experience, and I’ve been showing him in a different way—he can move freely across more than one position while still staying within an organised tactical structure. I believe this approach will help him not only here, but also with his future at his club.”
Egypt’s coach believes that if they come out on top against Iran on Saturday, it will complete the team’s first-ever journey into the World Cup knockout stage.
