Saibari uncertain for France-Morocco quarter-final after muscle scare against Canada

Ismaël Saibari, Morocco’s leading scorer at the 2026 World Cup with three goals in five matches, is highly uncertain for the quarter-final against France scheduled in two days. The 25-year-old striker left the victorious round-of-16 match against Canada (3-0) in the 22nd minute after experiencing thigh pain during an acceleration.

Head coach Mohamed Ouahbi had downplayed the concern by mentioning a simple “hamstring discomfort” after the match, but medical examinations suggest a potentially more serious injury. Transferred with the delegation to Boston, Saibari underwent an initial MRI early in the week and was scheduled to have a second one on Monday to clarify the diagnosis. Moroccan media report that the injury “would ultimately be less serious than feared”, without the medical staff officially confirming his availability.

Saibari’s absence would represent a considerable blow to the Lions of the Atlas. Recently transferred from PSV Eindhoven to Bayern Munich for approximately 50 million euros, Saibari has established himself as the technical guide for his national team throughout the American tournament. His goal in the draw against Brazil (1-1) in the group stage, followed by his decisive composure during the penalty shootout against the Netherlands in the round-of-16, definitively cemented his status as a leader.

Facing the French central defensive pairing of Upamecano and Saliba, losing his primary creative force would represent a major handicap for Morocco. The French camp is also not spared from uncertainties: Aurélien Tchouameni is also racing against time to be available for this quarter-final.