Spokane to host Egypt and world superstar during World Cup
Apr. 20—One of the world's greatest athletes will be in Spokane this spring after Egypt's FIFA World Cup team was selected to practice on the grassy fields at Gonzaga University. The team is among those representing their nations playing at Lumen Field in Seattle.
But first the team captained by superstar Mohamed Salah, dubbed the "Egyptian King," will be in Spokane to prepare. Mo Salah may not be a household name in the United States, but he has been among the top soccer players in the world for the past decade. He plays for reigning champion Liverpool of the English Premier League.
This summer his goal is to lead a loaded Egyptian team into the knockout round, which would be further than its past three disappointing World Cups. The news broke Monday in a Spokane City Council agenda item requesting the purchase of four drones for security for the Egyptian practice sessions and travel. The Egyptian team will play its opening group stage match in Seattle against Belgium on June 15.
Egypt will also play against Iran on June 26. The team could advance to matches in the round of 32 or the round of 16 in Seattle during the elimination tournament. Rather than housing teams in the immediate vicinity of the stadium, they will compete for the duration of their time in the tournament.
FIFA, the international soccer governing body, has opted to lodge teams in "base camps" throughout the country where they can train and recover. Spokane had already been identified as one of the 64 "base camp" options that teams participating in the tournament could select from. The city also was previously identified as one of nine official "fan zones" in the state during the World Cup.
Continue to the original source for the full article.