The Morocco national team has been dealt a devastating blow during their World Cup 2026 Round of 16 clash against Canada, as star midfielder Ismael Saibari suffered a tournament-ending injury.
The 25-year-old, who recently sealed a blockbuster move to Bayern Munich, was forced off the pitch in the 22nd minute. The severity of the injury was immediately apparent as Saibari broke down in tears while leaving the Houston stadium turf.
Injury Details & World Cup Absence:
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The Injury: Moroccan media reports indicate that Saibari has sustained a right hamstring injury.
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Recovery Timeline: Preliminary assessments suggest the injury will require several weeks of recovery, effectively ruling him out of the remainder of Morocco’s World Cup 2026 campaign.
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The Next Challenge: Despite the setback, the Atlas Lions advanced past Canada and are now awaiting the winner of the France vs. Paraguay match for their Quarterfinal showdown on July 9th.
A Massive Loss for the Atlas Lions: Saibari’s absence is a monumental loss for manager Mohamed Ouahbi. The former PSV Eindhoven star has been Morocco’s standout player and top scorer in the tournament, netting 3 goals in the opening 3 matches, in addition to scoring the decisive penalty in the Round of 32 shootout against the Netherlands.
Just before his World Cup heartbreak, Saibari had finalized a high-profile €55 million transfer to German giants Bayern Munich.
