With Lionel Messi and Mohamed Salah preparing for a blockbuster meeting in Atlanta, the decision surrounding Marmoush has quickly become one of the biggest talking points before kickoff. Omar Marmoush will begin Egypt’s huge 2026 World Cup Round of 16 clash against Argentina from the bench, leaving many supporters wondering why one of the team’s biggest attacking names is missing from the starting lineup. With Lionel Messi and Mohamed Salah preparing for a blockbuster meeting in Atlanta, the decision surrounding Marmoush has quickly become one of the biggest talking points before kickoff.
Marmoush’s absence from the starting XI is not because of an injury. Instead, Egypt’s decision is linked to his lack of attacking production during the tournament and Hossam Hassan’s desire to use a more compact system against Argentina.
The Manchester City forward arrived at the World Cup as one of Egypt’s most exciting attacking options, expected to provide pace, direct running, and support for Salah. However, his performances so far have failed to reach the level many expected, with Marmoush recording no goals or assists in 316 minutes of action at the tournament.
His finishing has also been a concern. The forward managed only one shot on target from 11 attempts and missed a major one-on-one opportunity against Australia before failing to convert his penalty during the shootout. Those moments appear to have influenced Hassan’s decision ahead of the biggest match in Egypt’s campaign.
*More to follow…