World Cup 2026: FC Basel show support for Mohamed Salah ahead of Egypt opener

Egyptian captain Mohamed Salah has received a wave of support from his former club FC Basel as he prepares to lead the Pharaohs at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, Mexico, and Canada.

Egypt have been drawn in Group G alongside Belgium, Iran, and New Zealand, with their opening fixture set for next Monday against Belgium in what is expected to be a high-profile clash.

In a social media post, the Swiss top-flight celebrated several of their former players heading to the tournament, including Salah, who represented the Swiss side between 2012 and 2014. The club wrote: “We present to you Basel’s former World Cup 2026 player, Mohamed Salah, who played 79 matches between 2012 and 2014.”

They also highlighted other former players involved in the tournament, including Dan Ndoye, Renato Veiga, Manuel Akanji, and Jonas Adjei, wishing them all success on the global stage.

Salah’s time at Basel marked a key stepping stone in his career, where he made 79 appearances, scoring 20 goals and registering 14 assists, before earning a move to Chelsea in 2014. He later went on to establish himself as one of the world’s top forwards, becoming Egypt’s talisman on the international stage.

As Egypt prepare for their World Cup opener, expectations are high on Salah to inspire the team as they aim for a strong showing in a challenging group.