Last week, one of Egypt's largest mobile network operators launched a series of humorous advertisements featuring three national team players: Ahmed Fatouh, Rami Rabia, and Hossam Abdelmaguid. In these ads, their optimism is met with ridicule from family and friends, who cannot believe their claims that the team could advance past the group stage of the 2026 World Cup.

While many African teams dream of replicating Morocco's 2022 semi-final feat, most Egyptians simply hope for one victory in the group stage.

It is not without reason that Egyptians mock themselves. Since their first World Cup appearance in 1934, the North African team has participated in the finals four times, playing seven matches without a single win.

Paradoxically, Egypt has won the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) seven times, more than any other team. The contrast between their performance at the continental and global levels was particularly stark between 1994 and 2014. During this period, "the Pharaohs" claimed four AFCON titles but stumbled six consecutive times in World Cup qualifiers.

Salah (red) during a friendly match against Brazil in Cleveland, USA on 6/6. Photo: AP

Now, qualifying for the biggest football festival on the planet has become easier for Egypt, thanks to the expansion of participating teams to 48. However, FIFA is not the only hero for the land of pyramids.

Eight years after the decisive penalty that ended their World Cup drought, Mohamed Salah has once again become the hero for the North African representative. He scored 9 goals, provided three assists, and played almost every minute in the qualifying campaign.

However, Salah approaches this year's tournament under very different circumstances compared to 2018. At the tournament in Russia, he was still building his reputation after an explosive first season with Liverpool. At that time, he had not yet amassed a large collection of titles to enter the Premier League hall of fame. The world still questioned whether his 2017-2018 season form was temporary.

Today, at the age of 34, Salah has little left to prove. He has won every major title with Liverpool. Whether Egypt is eliminated in the group stage or reaches the knockout rounds, the world's assessment of Salah's career will not change significantly.

But in Egypt, things are entirely different. Winning at the World Cup, or leading the team past the group stage, would see Salah surpass all previous national football legends. Salah is also very close to the goal-scoring record of legendary Hossam Hassan, who is also the current head coach of the national team. The former Liverpool player needs only two more goals to equal the record, despite playing 61 fewer matches.

Salah (second from right) trains with his national teammates in Tunisia, in Seattle, USA on 14/6. Photo: AP

"We have many good players, and I am very satisfied with the current squad. But of course, in important moments, we depend on Salah," coach Hassan said before the opening match against Belgium. "He scores goals, creates opportunities, and we need Salah in his best condition. I believe he can help Egypt win."

However, this is the second consecutive World Cup where Salah arrives with an injury. In 2018, it was a shoulder injury in the Champions League final. This time, it is a hamstring issue, which affected his final weeks at Liverpool.

The situation appears less severe than 8 years ago. But when asked about his physical condition after arriving in the USA, Salah remained evasive: "We need to focus on training. Then everything will be clear. We want to make the people proud and will do our best. This is a difficult group. Every team has a chance, so we will fight our hardest and hope to go far."

There is reason for Egyptians to view the World Cup with both hope and humor. History has taught them to expect disappointment. But history has also never given them a player like Salah. Ironically, the Egyptian captain enters what is perhaps the most important World Cup of his career with nothing left to prove.

Self-deprecating stories, humorous advertisements, and bitter laughter have become part of the Egyptian character. But even the best jokes can become tiresome.

And perhaps most Egyptians would agree: after 92 years of waiting, just one World Cup victory would be enough to bring happiness.

Vy Anh