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Saibari forced off the pitch in the 21st minute against Canada

Morocco's leading scorer at the 2026 World Cup with three goals, Ismael Saibari had to leave the field through injury in the 21st minute of the round of 16 between Morocco and Canada at NRG Stadium in Houston.

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Saibari forced off the pitch in the 21st minute against Canada
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Ismael Saibari left the pitch through injury in the 21st minute of the round of 16 between Morocco and Canada, played at NRG Stadium in Houston as part of the 2026 World Cup. The 25-year-old forward, Morocco’s leading scorer in the competition, was replaced by Soufiane Rahimi, who plays for Al-Aïn in the United Arab Emirates.

Saibari appeared to be struggling for several minutes before sitting down on the pitch, forcing the Morocco coaching staff to make an early substitution. His departure represents a significant blow for Morocco: the player, recently transferred from PSV Eindhoven to Bayern Munich, had scored three goals since the start of the tournament.

The forward born in Terrassa, Spain, opened his account on June 14 against Brazil in the Lions of the Atlas’ first group match. He then made an impact against Scotland and Haiti, finishing the group stage as Morocco’s leading attacking force.

The exact nature of his injury is not yet known. His availability for a potential quarter-final remains uncertain.

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