Mohamed Salah starts for Egypt versus Belgium at the 2026 World Cup on his birthday

Mohamed Salah was in the starting line-up for Egypt’s 2026 FIFA World Cup Group G opener against Belgium at Seattle Stadium on Monday.

The star winger celebrates his 34th birthday today and hopes his team can get their World Cup campaign off to a perfect start against the European side.

Salah is the all-time top scorer for his country with 65 goals in 114 appearances. He once again has Egypt’s hopes, but this time with better attacking support around him. His movement from the right, finishing on his left foot, and his ability to perform under pressure make him the player most likely to decide Egypt’s biggest games.

Egypt has qualified for the World Cup for the first time since 2018, when the country exited the group stage. The country’s best result came in 1934 when it played the round of 16 (which was then the preliminary round).

Published on June 15, 2026