Saibari scores Morocco's fastest World Cup goal, but loses 2026 tournament record to Galarza

Ismaël Saibari secured victory for Morocco against Scotland (1-0) on matchday two of the 2026 World Cup group stage, opening the scoring after just 71 seconds — the fastest goal ever scored by a Moroccan player in World Cup history.

The move came from a pass by Brahim Diaz, who found his teammate on the right flank. The future Bayern Munich player then unleashed a powerful strike that left Scottish goalkeeper Angus Gunn with no chance. Saibari had already found the net on matchday one against Brazil (1-1), confirming his status as a decisive player in this group stage.

Despite its speed, this goal does not rank among the ten fastest in tournament history. The all-time record belongs to Turkey’s Hakan Şükür, who scored after just 11 seconds against South Korea in the third-place playoff of the 2002 World Cup. In total, thirteen players have scored within the first minute of a World Cup match, leaving Saibari just outside the Top 10.

For a few hours, the PSV Eindhoven forward held the record for the fastest goal of this 2026 edition. But overnight Friday to Saturday, Paraguay’s Matías Galarza dethroned him by opening the scoring against Turkey after 64 seconds — seven seconds faster than Saibari.

There remains, however, significant consolation for the Morocco international: his goal is the second-fastest ever scored by an African nation in World Cup history. Only Ghana’s Asamoah Gyan had done better, scoring after 68 seconds against Czech Republic at the 2006 World Cup. Just three seconds now separate Saibari from the African continental record.