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Salah's Long Goodbye: Egypt Star Begins Farewell Tour with Liverpool at Man City in FA Cup

(FILES) Liverpool's Egyptian forward #11 Mohamed Salah applauds as he leaves the pitch after being substituted during the UEFA Champions League, round of 16 second leg football match between Liverpool and Galatasaray at Anfield in Liverpool, north-west England on March 18, 2026. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP)
(FILES) Liverpool's Egyptian forward #11 Mohamed Salah applauds as he leaves the pitch after being substituted during the UEFA Champions League, round of 16 second leg football match between Liverpool and Galatasaray at Anfield in Liverpool, north-west England on March 18, 2026. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP)
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Salah's Long Goodbye: Egypt Star Begins Farewell Tour with Liverpool at Man City in FA Cup

(FILES) Liverpool's Egyptian forward #11 Mohamed Salah applauds as he leaves the pitch after being substituted during the UEFA Champions League, round of 16 second leg football match between Liverpool and Galatasaray at Anfield in Liverpool, north-west England on March 18, 2026. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP)
(FILES) Liverpool's Egyptian forward #11 Mohamed Salah applauds as he leaves the pitch after being substituted during the UEFA Champions League, round of 16 second leg football match between Liverpool and Galatasaray at Anfield in Liverpool, north-west England on March 18, 2026. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP)

Mohamed Salah's long goodbye to Liverpool begins on Saturday in the quarterfinals of the FA Cup, the competition which represents his best chance of a trophy in his final year at Anfield.

The Egypt winger announced last week that he will be leaving Liverpool at the end of the season after nine years at a club where he has broken scoring records and established himself as one of the world's best players.

Salah potentially has 15 games left in the famous red shirt: Seven in the Premier League as well as three in the FA Cup and five in the Champions League, should Liverpool reach the final in both of those competitions.

That won't be easy.

In the Champions League, defending champion Paris Saint-Germain is up next in the two-leg quarterfinals and it's pretty much as tough in the FA Cup, with Liverpool handed an away match at Manchester City.

Salah, who has 255 goals in 435 appearances for Liverpool, missed the Reds' last game before the international break — a 2-1 loss at Brighton in the league — with a muscle injury but has told manager Arne Slot he should be healthy enough to return this weekend.

“He just does so much for his body for such a long time that he recovers so fast," Slot said on Wednesday. "So, he will train with the team again tomorrow and if everything works well then he’s available to be with us at City.”

The 33-year-old Salah was left out of the Liverpool team for four straight games at the end of 2025 in what appeared to be a breakdown in his relationship with Slot and the club.

Since returning from the Africa Cup of Nations, Salah virtually has been an ever-present in the lineup, seemingly winning the Dutch coach round.

“That hunger never drops,” Slot said of Salah. "It's the thing I find most special about him. So many good players around the world — he's definitely one of them in the last 10 years — and to show that hunger every three days, that professionalism, that commitment to the club and to the team, wanting to score again, always wanting to play ...

“When you take him out three minutes before the end, he's like, ‘Ah, maybe I could have scored one extra.’”

City, meanwhile, is seeking a domestic cup double after beating Arsenal in the English League Cup final on March 22. Pep Guardiola's team is also chasing Arsenal in the Premier League, which takes a break this weekend to give the FA Cup its own space in the calendar.

Key matchups

The other FA Cup quarterfinals take place across Saturday and Sunday.

After City-Liverpool in the early kickoff on Saturday, Chelsea hosts third-tier Port Vale — the lowest-ranked team left in the competition — before Arsenal visits second-tier Southampton.

On Sunday, West Ham hosts Leeds in an all-Premier League matchup.

Players to watch Manchester City midfielder Phil Foden has less than two months to persuade England coach Thomas Thomas he is worthy of a place in the World Cup squad.

Foden started both of England’s recent friendly games — a draw with Uruguay and a loss to Japan — but failed to impress either in the No. 10 role or as a “false nine," prompting Tuchel to say it's “ not a guarantee ” that Foden will be at the World Cup.

Foden was English soccer's player of the year in the 2023-24 season but has not maintained his top form and has rarely started for City in recent months.

Out of action

Arsenal's team sheet for the Southampton game will be heavily scrutinized, given 10 players missed games for their national team over the international break because of various issues.

Eberechi Eze, Jurrien Timber and Martin Odegaard already had injuries that caused them to miss the League Cup final, before Piero Hincapie, Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice, William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhaes and Leandro Trossard all pulled out of international duty.

England's Noni Madueke and Spain's Martin Zubimendi missed the second games for their respective countries after reporting injuries.

Off the field

There might be growing disharmony at Chelsea, going off recent comments by two of the team's best players.

Enzo Fernandez said after elimination in the Champions League that he couldn't guarantee being at Chelsea next season, while Marc Cucurella told The Athletic during this international break that the team was “more stable” under coach Enzo Maresca, who was fired in January, and, "If you asked me, I would not have made this decision.”

Liam Rosenior, the current Chelsea coach, is under big pressure after four straight defeats.

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Yamal Scores on Injury Return as Spain Defeat Saudi Arabia

Spain's Lamine Yamal celebrates with teammate Rodri, left, after scoring his side's opening goal during the World Cup Group H soccer match between Spain and Saudi Arabia in Atlanta, Sunday, June 21, 2026. (AP)
Spain's Lamine Yamal celebrates with teammate Rodri, left, after scoring his side's opening goal during the World Cup Group H soccer match between Spain and Saudi Arabia in Atlanta, Sunday, June 21, 2026. (AP)
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Yamal Scores on Injury Return as Spain Defeat Saudi Arabia

Spain's Lamine Yamal celebrates with teammate Rodri, left, after scoring his side's opening goal during the World Cup Group H soccer match between Spain and Saudi Arabia in Atlanta, Sunday, June 21, 2026. (AP)
Spain's Lamine Yamal celebrates with teammate Rodri, left, after scoring his side's opening goal during the World Cup Group H soccer match between Spain and Saudi Arabia in Atlanta, Sunday, June 21, 2026. (AP)

Lamine Yamal's return sparked Spain's World Cup into life as the European champions ran riot to beat Saudi Arabia 4-0 in Atlanta.

Making his first start in two months after a hamstring injury, Yamal ended La Roja's long wait for a World Cup goal just 10 minutes in.

Mikel Oyarzabal then struck twice to put Luis de la Fuente's men 3-0 up inside 24 minutes.

De la Fuente's careful management of Yamal's minutes continued as the Barcelona superstar was replaced at half-time before Hassan al-Tambakti's own goal rounded off the scoring.

Victory propels Spain to the top of Group H ahead of Uruguay's meeting with Cape Verde later on Sunday.

Billed as one of the pre-tournament favorites, Spain got off to a slow start in a 0-0 draw against debutants Cape Verde.

A pedestrian performance despite dominating possession only highlighted the importance of Yamal to their quest to be world champions for a second time.

De la Fuente also warned his players had been "stung" by the criticism they faced following their opening result and they responded emphatically.

Yamal's return was one of four changes in total with Pedro Porro, Dani Olmo and Alex Baena also coming into the starting line-up.

After over 2,500 passes and 50 attempts at goal since their last World Cup goal, Spain finally found the net and fittingly Yamal made the breakthrough.

- Pressure rises on Saudis -

Oyarzabal found space in behind the Saudi defense and his low cross picked out the 18-year-old to slot in at the back post.

Coach Georgios Donis looked particularly irked that two of Spain's goals came from corners.

Oyarzabal pounced on Aymeric Laporte's flick on to give the 2010 winners the breathing space they craved.

Just three minutes later, the Real Sociedad forward volleyed home from Dani Olmo's header for his 14th international goal in his last 13 caps.

Oyarzabal was inches away from a first half hat-trick when his audacious effort with the outside of his foot from a narrow angle came back off the crossbar.

But with the job done by half-time, De la Fuente could afford the luxury of replacing Yamal and Oyarzabal at the break.

The changes did not disrupt the waves of Spanish attack towards the Saudi goal, but the fourth also came via a corner.

Cucurella was afforded acres of space to shoot and although his effort was repelled by Mohammed al-Owais, the rebound deflected in off the unfortunate Tambakti.

To round off an ideal afternoon for De la Fuente on his 65th birthday, Nico Williams and Mikel Merino were afforded valuable minutes off the bench in the second period as they too get up to match speed after lengthy absences due to injury.

By contrast, the pressure is now on Donis to deliver in Saudi Arabia's final group game against Cape Verde in Houston.

Victory will likely take the Arabian Falcons into the knockout stages for the first time since the World Cup was last in the United States 32 years ago.

Spain travel to Guadalajara next for the final group game against two-time winners Uruguay on Friday.

Sports

Key Netherlands Duo Hopeful of Facing Tunisia in Final Pool Game

Netherlands' defender #04 Virgil van Dijk (C) is helped up by Netherlands' defender #15 Micky Van de Ven (L) and Netherlands' midfielder #20 Teun Koopmeiners (R) during the 2026 World Cup Group F football match between the Netherlands and Sweden at the Houston Stadium in Houston on June 20, 2026. (AFP)
Netherlands' defender #04 Virgil van Dijk (C) is helped up by Netherlands' defender #15 Micky Van de Ven (L) and Netherlands' midfielder #20 Teun Koopmeiners (R) during the 2026 World Cup Group F football match between the Netherlands and Sweden at the Houston Stadium in Houston on June 20, 2026. (AFP)
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Key Netherlands Duo Hopeful of Facing Tunisia in Final Pool Game

Netherlands' defender #04 Virgil van Dijk (C) is helped up by Netherlands' defender #15 Micky Van de Ven (L) and Netherlands' midfielder #20 Teun Koopmeiners (R) during the 2026 World Cup Group F football match between the Netherlands and Sweden at the Houston Stadium in Houston on June 20, 2026. (AFP)
Netherlands' defender #04 Virgil van Dijk (C) is helped up by Netherlands' defender #15 Micky Van de Ven (L) and Netherlands' midfielder #20 Teun Koopmeiners (R) during the 2026 World Cup Group F football match between the Netherlands and Sweden at the Houston Stadium in Houston on June 20, 2026. (AFP)

Netherlands captain Virgil van ‌Dijk is feeling discomfort after taking a knock in Saturday’s 5-1World Cup demolition of Sweden, but is hopeful the injury is not serious enough to keep him out of the team’s final pool game against Tunisia.

The Netherlands bounced back from a 2-2 draw with Japan to inflict a heavy defeat on the Swedes in Houston, and will fancy their chances of sealing top spot in Group F when they play hapless already-eliminated Tunisia in Kansas City on Thursday.

"I took a hard hit to my hip, and I couldn’t feel my upper ‌leg anymore, so ‌that was a little bit crazy," Van Dijk ‌was ⁠quoted as saying ⁠by NOS. "But it was probably just a pinched nerve. I think it is not too bad, but we will see shortly."

Center-back van Dijk remains a key figure for coach Ronald Koeman and could become the Dutch player with the most World Cup appearances as captain if he features against the Tunisians.

He currently has seven, level with Johan Cruyff, ⁠Giovanni van Bronckhorst, Frank de Boer and Ruud ‌Krol, and if he leads the side ‌again in this World Cup will move clear on the all-time list.

He ‌is not the only injury concern. Midfielder Frenkie de Jong was ‌a doubt coming into the match against Sweden, but played almost an hour before being replaced.

"We had a collision at training, and I was also involved in that," De Jong said. "I had sustained some damage from it, but ‌in the end, it was okay. We’re going to see what the reaction will be, but I ⁠have confidence ⁠in it."

The win extended the Netherlands’ unbeaten run at World Cups to 14 games, not counting penalty shootouts. That took them past Brazil (1958-1966) for the longest unbeaten streak in the tournament’s history.

The last time they lost a game outright was the 2010 final to Spain when they went down 1-0 in Soweto, South Africa.

Netherlands currently top Group F after two rounds with four points, the same number as Japan. Both teams have a +4 goal difference, though the Dutch have scored a goal more.

Japan play Sweden in their final match, where the latter could still top the pool despite their heavy defeat to the Dutch if they win and Tunisia hold the Netherlands to a draw.

Sports

Coach Says Iran Still Being Treated Poorly by US at World Cup ahead of Second Match

Iran's head coach Amir Ghalenoei speaks to his players during an MD-1 training session at Carson Sports Park in Carson, on June 20, 2026, on the eve of the 2026 World Cup Group G football match between Belgium and Iran. (Photo by Frederic J. Brown / AFP)
Iran's head coach Amir Ghalenoei speaks to his players during an MD-1 training session at Carson Sports Park in Carson, on June 20, 2026, on the eve of the 2026 World Cup Group G football match between Belgium and Iran. (Photo by Frederic J. Brown / AFP)
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Coach Says Iran Still Being Treated Poorly by US at World Cup ahead of Second Match

Iran's head coach Amir Ghalenoei speaks to his players during an MD-1 training session at Carson Sports Park in Carson, on June 20, 2026, on the eve of the 2026 World Cup Group G football match between Belgium and Iran. (Photo by Frederic J. Brown / AFP)
Iran's head coach Amir Ghalenoei speaks to his players during an MD-1 training session at Carson Sports Park in Carson, on June 20, 2026, on the eve of the 2026 World Cup Group G football match between Belgium and Iran. (Photo by Frederic J. Brown / AFP)

Iran coach Amir Ghalenoei says that although his team is still being treated unfairly by the host US at the World Cup through travel restrictions and visa refusals, he is optimistic FIFA will persuade the Americans to lessen some of those strictures next week.

“I am very glad that the Iranian nation is behind us,” Ghalenoei said through an interpreter. “Our martyrs in Iran, we play for them. But I know that this kind of behavior has hurt our people. Even if we spent billions of dollars, we would not be able to have justice for our people. It just shows we are an oppressed country. But nevertheless, I hope we achieve peace, and I hope this kind of behavior does not become institutionalized in the World Cup.”

Iran returned to the Los Angeles area on Saturday for its second match against Belgium on Sunday, but Ghalenoei said he was forced to curtail his team’s training ahead of this difficult meeting with the No. 10 team in FIFA’s world rankings after his request to travel Friday was denied.

“We needed to have 24 hours (in Los Angeles), but they gave us less than 16 hours, and that is why we had to leave our training halfway,” Ghalenoei said. “These constraints have made it very difficult for us.”

Ghalenoei also appealed to the World Cup’s other teams and coaches to speak out against the treatment of the Iranian team.

“I ask the other 47 coaches a question, and none of them have responded to me,” he said. “We are here for football, not politics, and we are saying that again. Our grievances are to the way they’ve behaved with us. I haven’t heard anything from other coaches (at the World Cup), and I’m sure they’re busy and preparing their own teams and we never expect them to have a reaction. But if I had seen another team being treated the way we are being treated, I would say something.”

The Iranian team is operating under travel restrictions set by the US, which began a war against Iran on Feb. 28. Team Melli has been directed to fly to its matches in the US on the day before the game and to return immediately afterward to its training base in Tijuana, Mexico.

While that schedule is not considered onerous by other teams who voluntarily travel in the same window, it’s not what Ghalenoei wants. Iran worked out at the LA Galaxy’s home stadium in suburban Carson on Saturday afternoon after the short flight from Tijuana.

“You cannot deny that our situation hasn’t been the same as all the other teams,” Iran midfielder Saeid Ezatolahi said. “All the other teams have managed to focus on our planning, whereas we have had to spend so much time just commuting.”

Ghalenoei repeatedly praised FIFA President Gianni Infantino for his attempts to loosen the Americans’ restrictions, and he is optimistic that the US will allow Team Melli to travel to Seattle next week two days in advance of its final group stage match against Egypt.

“For the third game, they said, ‘In Seattle, you can do what you want,’” Ghalenoei said. “'You can act the way you want to, and you can come earlier.' But my problem is, why didn’t they let us come earlier for the first two games as well? I just know for the last game, they’ve allowed us to make our own decisions with planning the travel. But unfortunately for the first two games, others made these timing decisions for us.”

The coach said FIFA spent much of Friday attempting to persuade the American government to allow Iran to fly to Los Angeles that day. Ghalenoei waited by the phone for the approval to head for the airport, but the negotiations were unsuccessful.

“They said, ‘Sorry, we weren’t able to do that,’” Ghalenoei said. “And that’s going to affect us mentally, especially because as a head coach, I want to focus on technical things. I thank FIFA for that, but it doesn’t mean it’s succeeded. I just hope problems won’t occur in future World Cups.”

Iran also played its opening match of the World Cup at SoFi Stadium on Monday, drawing 2-2 with underdog New Zealand one day after a five-hour commute that included customs delays.

Ghaleneoi said after the game that he was surprised and upset to be ordered out of the country immediately instead of taking another day in the US to optimize his team's recovery period, while US officials claimed Iran already knew about its restrictions.

Ghalenoei acknowledged Saturday that the Iranians cleared customs and reached their Los Angeles hotel much more quickly this time following their short flight from Tijuana, giving credit to US officials for ironing out some of the bureaucratic wrinkles.

But he also renewed his complaints about the members of the team’s traveling party who had been denied visas, including the head of Iran’s football federation, coaching support personnel and media relations staffers.

“Such kind of behavior is not suitable for a World Cup,” Ghalenoei said. “You invite a team, but you don’t let in their support staff, their backroom staff?”

Ghalenoei said Iran’s soccer federation hasn’t formally lodged a complaint with FIFA about its treatment, but is only airing its grievances publicly.

Belgian right back Thomas Meunier expressed his team’s empathy with the Iranians’ situation, which reminded him of facing Ukraine after the Russian invasion.

“We usually don’t mix football with politics, but it’s quite challenging to separate the two, admittedly,” Meunier said through an interpreter. “This period should push the Iranian team to do better, in my opinion. When we played Ukraine in Nations League, there was very high motivation, more energy. They want to make their people proud and defend their nation. For us, it’s an added challenge. I would imagine some Iranian players have a family that’s directly impacted by the war, and we obviously feel for these people.”