Customers at a cafe in downtown Cairo, Egypt sip tea, play dominos and smoke a shisha in front of a mural of Liverpool striker Mohamad Salah. Salah has become a national symbol of pride after he skyrocketed to fame with his performance with Liverpool FC. The Egyptian National team has qualified for the World Cup in Russia in 2018 for the first time in 28 years. Sima Diab for The New York Times

A worker at a cafe extends the seats on to the street to accommodate people wanting to watch the Champions League semi-finals between Liverpool and Roma May 2, 2018. Egyptians often crowd street cafes to watch Liverpool striker Mohamed Salah. Sima Diab for The New York Times

People crowd around a tv at a street cafe in downtown Cairo to watch the Champions League semi-final between Liverpool and Roma. Seating at street cafes often spill out on to the street with rows of chairs during games featuring Salah. Sima Diab for The New York Times

Children play football on the streets of Nagrig, Egypt, the hometown of Liverpool striker Mohamed Salah, May 8, 2018. Sima Diab for The New York Times

Children play next to a truck adorned with stickers of Liverpool striker Mohamed Salah is parked next to Salah's family home in his hometown of Nagrig, Egypt, an agricultural village about 80 miles north of Cairo, Egypt. Sima Diab for The New York Times

Customers of a local barbershop next to Liverpool striker Mohamed Salah's family home in the agricultural village of Nagrig, Egypt watch a re-run of the Liverpool FC vs Chelsea match, May 8, 2018. Sima Diab for The New York Times

A young man speaks to passerbys wearing a football jersey with hometown hero Mohamed Salah's name in Salah's hometown of Nagrig, Egypt, May 8, 2018. Sima Diab for The New York Times

Youth warm up for practice at a local football academy in Liverpool striker's hometown of Nagrig, Egypt a small agricultural town about 80 miles north of Cairo, May 8, 2018. Sima Diab for The New York Times

Youth listen to their coach ahead of football practice at a local football academy in Liverpool striker's hometown of Nagrig, Egypt a small agricultural town about 80 miles north of Cairo, May 8, 2018. Sima Diab for The New York Times

A digital billboard with Liverpool Striker Mohamed Salah endorsing Pepsi, on the 6th of October Bridge Highway in Cairo, Egypt, May 14, 2018. Sima Diab for The New York Times

A shop in the Hussein Mosque area of old Cairo sells Mohamed Salah jerseys among other tourist trinkets. May 14, 2018. Sima Diab for The New York Times

An employee folds Mohamed Salah jerseys at a street stall in old Cairo. May 14, 2018. Images of Salah have adorned traditional Ramadan trinkets. Sima Diab for The New York Times

A pillow with an illustration of Liverpool striker Mohamed Salah amongst other Ramadan trinkets at a Ramadan market in the Sayyeda Zeinab area of Cairo, Egypt. May 14, 2018. Images of Liverpool striker Mohamed Salah have adorned traditional Ramadan trinkets. May 14, 2018. Sima Diab for The New York Times

Fans take pictures with the Liverpool FC flag at a Champions League final watch party hosted by the official Liverpool Fan Club in Egypt, May 26, 2018. Liverpool lost to Real Madrid and Mohamed Salah was taken out of the game with a shoulder injury. Sima Diab for The New York Times

Fans watch Liverpool striker Mohamed Salah projected on a large screen before the Champions League final match, May 26, 2018. Fans gathered to watch the game hosted by the official Liverpool FC Fan Club of Egypt in Cairo. Sima Diab for The New York TImes

Liverpool FC fans react to a play against Liverpool striker Mohamed Salah. The play by Real Madrid's Sergio Ramos at minute 31 of the game cost Mohamed Salah the rest of the match. Real Madrid beat Liverpool FC 3-1. May 26, 2018. Sima Diab for The New York Times

Liverpool FC fans react to a goal by Liverpool winger Sadio Mane scoring the only goal for Liverpool during the Champions League final between Liverpool and Real Madrid, May 26, 2018. Sima Diab for The New York Times

Liverpool fans react to a goal by Real Madrid during the second half of the Champions League final between Liverpool and Real Madrid during a watch party hosted by the official Liverpool fan club of Egypt. May 26, 2018. Real Madrid went on to beat Liverpool FC 3-1 to clinch the third consecutive Champaions League title. Sima Diab for The New York Times

A Liverpool fan closely watches the Champions League final between Liverpool and Real Madrid, May 26, 2018. Real Madrid went on to beat Liverpool FC 3-1 to clinch the third consecutive Champaions League title. Sima Diab for The New York Times

A large poster of Liverpool striker Mohamed Salah hangs on a shop door in a central Cairo market, June 7, 2018. Shop sellers are gearing up to sell Egyptian national team tchotchke ahead of the national team's appearance at the World Cup. Many of the products bear a picture of Mohamed Salah. This year will be the first time Egypt qualifies for the World Cup in 28 years. Sima Diab for The New York Times.