Belgium coach Garcia says takes Egypt seriously at World Cup, knows all about Mo salah – National Teams – Sports

Rudi Garcia, Head Coach of Belgium, poses on the red carpet prior to the FIFA World Cup 2026 Official Draw at John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. AFP

“Egypt are one of the best teams in Africa,” Garcia told FIFA ahead of Belgium’s departure for the tournament. “I know all about Mo Salah — I coached him at Roma. We’re obviously very aware of what they can bring.”

The remarks carry particular weight given Garcia’s personal history with Egypt’s talismanic captain. The 62-year-old managed Salah during the Egyptian forward’s formative years at AS Roma, making him one of the few coaches in the tournament with direct first-hand knowledge of the man who will lead the Pharaohs’ attack.

Belgium and Egypt are drawn together in Group G alongside Iran and New Zealand — a group Garcia acknowledges he has studied carefully.

While the Red Devils enter as heavy favourites by virtue of their pedigree, having reached the semi-finals as recently as 2018, Egypt have never won a match at the global showpiece.

For the Pharaohs, a squad built around Salah and targeting a first-ever World Cup win, facing a manager who knows their key player intimately adds a layer of intrigue to what is already a high-stakes group opener.

Garcia was careful not to let familiarity breed complacency. “We have a huge amount of respect for all three sides in our group,” he said. “Let’s start by respecting them, beat them, finish top of the group, and then we’ll see how far we can go.”

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