Is this the end? Morocco's main star ruled out against France
Steven Perez
Dailysports's expert
The Moroccan national team faces a major setback ahead of their World Cup quarterfinal clash.
Details: Morocco’s head coach Mohamed Ouahbi has confirmed that Ismael Saibari will not feature against France. According to the coach, the player is not yet ready to take the field, and the match has come too soon for his recovery. Reuters also reports that Saibari will miss the quarterfinal due to a hamstring injury sustained earlier in the tournament.
“He’s not ready today. It’s too early. I hope Isma will be available for the next match,” Ouahbi stated.
For the record, Ismael Saibari scored in all three group stage matches and converted the decisive penalty against the Netherlands.
It's worth noting that the France vs Morocco quarterfinal takes place today, July 9, 2026, in Boston, with the winner advancing to the World Cup semifinals.
Reminder: The France vs Morocco match has already made World Cup history: what happened?
