No Salah from the start! Hossam Hassan unveils Egypt lineup for Brazil showdown before World Cup 2026

Why Mohamed Salah starts on the bench against Brazil?

Africa Today at 17:04

Egypt face Brazil in Cleveland as Hossam Hassan names a surprising lineup for the Pharaohs’ final World Cup warm-up.

Egypt head coach Hossam Hassan has revealed his starting XI for the highly anticipated friendly against Brazil handing several players a major opportunity ahead of FIFA World Cup 2026.

The match at Huntington Bank Field in Cleveland is Egypt’s final test before opening their World Cup campaign against Belgium.

Brazil meanwhile will use the encounter as preparation for their first group stage match against Morocco.

The biggest talking point from the team sheet is the absence of Mohamed Salah from the starting lineup with Hossam Hassan opting for a different attacking approach against the 5 time world champions.

Egypt's starting XI against Brazil

Goalkeeper: Mostafa Shobeir
Defenders: Mohamed Hany, Hamdy Fathy, Yasser Ibrahim, Ahmed Fattouh
Midfielders: Marwan Attia, Mohannad Lasheen, Mostafa Ziko
Forwards: Haissem Hassan, Omar Marmoush, Mahmoud Hassan Trezeguet

The selection suggests Egypt will prioritize defensive organization and rapid transitions rather than possession against a technically superior Brazilian side.

Defensive flexibility at the back

Egypt's defensive unit contains an interesting tactical adjustment with Hamdy Fathy deployed alongside Yasser Ibrahim in central defense.

Hamdy's versatility allows him to step into midfield during possession phases or remain as an additional center back when Egypt are under pressure.

This flexibility could help Egypt deal with Brazil's movement and attacking width.

شعبية محمد صلاح مرعبة!!!!! ♥️🤯🇪🇬🔥 pic.twitter.com/rJjY4etOUu
— عمرو (@bt3) June 6, 2026

Why is Salah on the bench?

The decision to leave Salah out of the starting lineup immediately became the biggest pre match story.

Several factors could explain the move. Hossam Hassan may be managing the Liverpool star's workload before the World Cup or he could simply be using the friendly to evaluate alternative attacking combinations.

Regardless of the reason, Salah's presence on the bench means Egypt still possess a game-changing option capable of influencing the match during the second half.