Ismael Saibari, the recently signed FC Bayern midfielder, sustained an injury during Morocco’s 3-0 victory over Canada in the Round of 16 of the 2026 World Cup in Houston. The Atlas Lions progressed to the quarter-finals thanks to goals from Azzedine Ounahi (two) and Soufiane Rahimi, but the win came at a potential cost with Saibari’s early substitution.
Ounahi opened the scoring with a well-worked free-kick involving Achraf Hakimi, before doubling Morocco’s lead with a clinical finish on a counter-attack. Rahimi added a third in added time, assisted by Brahim Diaz, who continues to impress for the national team after missing a crucial penalty in the recent Africa Cup of Nations final. The Canadian side, managed by Jesse Marsch, struggled to contain Morocco’s attacking threat despite a competitive first half.
Saibari started Morocco’s first four games of the tournament and had been a key player for them, showcasing his talent on the world stage. He was substituted off before half-time against Canada, prompting concerns over the severity of the injury. The Moroccan team had a challenging first half, accumulating four of the six yellow cards issued by referee Michael Oliver.
FC Bayern signed Saibari earlier this summer from PSV Eindhoven, hoping he would add depth and creativity to their midfield options. The club will now await the results of further tests to determine the extent of the injury and the length of his potential absence. Alphonso Davies, formerly of RB Leipzig, remained an unused substitute for Canada as their World Cup campaign came to an end.
Morocco will now face the winners of France and Paraguay in the quarter-final, aiming to replicate their semi-final appearance from the previous World Cup, where they were defeated by France.
