Egypt captain Mohamed Salah told fans their team's historic World Cup campaign should mark the start of a new era for Egyptian football, in a message posted to his Instagram and Facebook accounts following the squad's return home on Friday, ending speculation over his future with the national team.
"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 post, coming just as speculation swirled over whether Salah would continue with the national side following Egypt's World Cup exit, was widely read as confirmation that the 34-year-old will remain part of the team through its next building phase.
The message came as thousands of supporters gathered at El Alamein International Airport to welcome the team, which was set to parade through New Alamein City aboard an open-top bus bearing a banner reading "100 million thank yous."
Egypt's run ended in a 3-2 defeat to holders Argentina after leading 2-0 with just over ten minutes to play, a match marked by refereeing controversy in its closing stages.
The campaign was the most successful in Egyptian World Cup history: the Pharaohs advanced out of the group stage and reached the round of 16 for the first time, finishing 15th overall with one win, three draws and one loss from five matches.
Egyptian football officials said a development strategy for 2026-2030 is being drawn up, with further details to be announced soon.
The federation faces a packed schedule in the coming period, starting with 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, followed by two consecutive AFCON tournaments in 2027 and 2028, in addition to qualifiers for the 2030 World Cup.
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