Egypt captain Mohamed Salah faces an uncertain World Cup future after sustaining a hamstring injury during the 1-1 draw with Iran. The 34-year-old forward was substituted in the match and subsequent scans confirmed the strain, leaving him as a doubt for Friday's crucial last-32 encounter against Australia in Dallas.

Team doctor Mohamed Abou revealed that Salah complained of pain before medical assessments validated the injury. While Egypt coach Hossam Hassan suggested the problem doesn't appear serious, the Egyptian FA confirmed Salah has begun treatment without providing a timeline for recovery. This setback echoes Salah's previous hamstring issue that sidelined him for three weeks in late April.

Despite this concern, Salah has contributed meaningfully to Egypt's campaign with one goal and two assists as the team advanced from Group G in second place. The Liverpool star's availability for the Australia clash will significantly impact Egypt's attacking options in what promises to be a challenging knockout fixture.

His potential absence represents a major blow to Egypt's World Cup aspirations given Salah's proven track record at the highest level.