This is true at least in 2021. PHP is evolving, going with more strict data types (method return types, variable types), lot of new language constructs like implicit constructor parameters, spread operator ... but it is still interpreted language. For small to medium projects (like 10k - 600k LOC) with tens of millions visits per month it could be easily primary language.

Just my 2 cents, better starts with PHP, because you can relatively fast see some results instead of starting new project with RUST / Go / Crystal / Elixir or whatever is currently in hype and you are not sure if selected language have all requirements you need in your project.