What You Need to Know
• Ismael Saibari, Morocco’s star forward, will miss the World Cup quarterfinal against France due to injury.
• Saibari sustained a hamstring injury during the last-16 match against Canada and has not recovered.
• Morocco’s coach, Mohamed Ouahbi, hopes Saibari can return if the team advances to the semifinals.
Ismael Saibari, Morocco’s star forward, will not participate in the World Cup quarterfinal match against France on July 9, 2026, due to a hamstring injury. The injury occurred during Morocco’s last-16 victory over Canada, and coach Mohamed Ouahbi confirmed that Saibari has not healed in time for this crucial match. Saibari, who recently transferred to Bayern Munich from PSV Eindhoven for a reported fee of 50 million euros ($57 million), has been a standout player, scoring in all three group games and converting the winning penalty against the Netherlands. If Morocco progresses past France, there is a possibility that Saibari could return for the semifinals, although Ouahbi emphasized the team’s determination to win regardless of Saibari’s absence.
Why It Matters
Morocco’s performance in the World Cup is significant as they aim to replicate their historic run to the semifinals in 2022, the first for an African or Arab team. The absence of Ismael Saibari, a key player, poses a challenge for the team as they face a strong opponent in France, who previously defeated them in the 2022 semifinals. Coach Mohamed Ouahbi’s focus on winning the quarterfinal match underscores the team’s ambition to achieve further success in the tournament, highlighting the importance of this match in their World Cup journey.
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