Egypt captain Mohamed Salah faces a race against time to be fit for the FIFA World Cup last-32 tie against Australia, after picking up a hamstring strain during the Pharaohs' final group stage match.

The 34-year-old was withdrawn from the pitch during Egypt's 1-1 draw with Iran, with team doctor Mohamed Abou confirming that Salah had reported pain during the game. Subsequent scans revealed a hamstring strain, and the Egyptian Football Association announced that Salah has since begun a treatment programme.

No timeline has been given for his recovery, leaving his availability for the round-of-32 encounter in Dallas on 3 July (19:00 BST) uncertain.

Hassan's cautious optimism

Egypt head coach Hossam Hassan offered measured reassurance after the Iran match. "I spoke with Salah and, God willing, the injury doesn't seem serious," Hassan said. "He assured me it would be fine, that it's not a serious injury."

The news is a concern for Egypt, however, given that a hamstring problem had already sidelined Salah for three weeks from late April during the club season. He recovered in time to appear in Liverpool's final two league matches, but another setback with the same muscle group raises questions ahead of a knockout fixture.

A key figure in Egypt's run

Despite the fitness worry, Salah has been a central figure in Egypt's World Cup campaign. The forward contributed one goal and two assists as the Pharaohs navigated Group G, finishing in second place to secure their place in the last 32.

Everything now hinges on how quickly he responds to treatment — and whether Hossam Hassan can count on his captain when it matters most against Australia in Dallas.