Russia head coach Valery Karpin has expressed his hope that Mohamed Salah will feature in the upcoming friendly against Egypt, saying the Pharaohs' captain would add major technical value to the match for both sides.
Karpin said in a television interview that Egypt have several players competing at major clubs, highlighting Salah and Omar Marmoush as key names who give the national team clear attacking quality ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
The Egypt vs Russia friendly is scheduled for May 28, 2026 in Cairo as part of Egypt's preparations for the World Cup, with the coaching staff set to finalise the squad after the match.
The Russia coach also noted that his team will be missing some players, but described the game as an important test against a side with significant experience and talent, while Salah's involvement remains subject to Egypt's technical and medical assessment.