Mohamed Salah commits to Egypt future after historic World Cup run

Egypt captain Mohamed Salah has pledged to help usher in a new chapter for the national team after the Pharaohs returned home from their best-ever FIFA World Cup campaign, effectively ending speculation surrounding his international future.

Salah shared an emotional message on his official Instagram and Facebook accounts on Friday following the squad’s arrival in Egypt, assuring supporters that the team’s achievements at the tournament should serve as the foundation for even greater success.

“I know you’re still upset, but I promise I will do everything in my power to make sure this becomes a new beginning for Egyptian football on the international stage. Qualifying for the World Cup won’t be enough, and participating won’t be enough either. This team deserves your trust,” Salah wrote.

The statement came amid growing speculation that the 34-year-old could step away from international football following Egypt’s World Cup exit. Instead, his message has been widely interpreted as confirmation that he intends to remain part of the national team as it begins preparations for the next cycle.

The players received a hero’s welcome upon their return, with thousands of fans gathering at El Alamein International Airport to celebrate the squad. The team was also scheduled to parade through New Alamein City aboard an open-top bus carrying a banner that read, “100 million thank yous.”

Egypt’s memorable World Cup journey came to a heartbreaking end in a dramatic 3-2 defeat to defending champions Argentina. The Pharaohs had established a two-goal advantage before conceding three late goals in a contest that was also overshadowed by controversial refereeing decisions during the closing stages.

Despite the disappointment, Egypt produced its finest World Cup performance to date. The North Africans progressed beyond the group stage for the first time in their history before reaching the Round of 16, ultimately finishing 15th overall with a record of one victory, three draws and one defeat from five matches.

Looking ahead, Egyptian football authorities have confirmed that a long-term development plan covering the period from 2026 to 2030 is currently being finalised, with further details expected to be announced in the near future.

The national team’s attention will now turn to the upcoming 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers before back-to-back AFCON tournaments in 2027 and 2028, while preparations will also begin for the qualification campaign for the 2030 FIFA World Cup.