Major Setback: Ismael Saibari Ruled Out of World Cup Quarter-Final Against France

Morocco’s hopes of repeating their fairytale deep run have suffered a devastating blow. In-form forward Ismael Saibari has been officially ruled out of the 2026 FIFA World Cup quarter-final against France in Boston after failing to recover from a hamstring injury.

The 25-year-old maestro, who recently sealed a blockbuster €50 million summer move to Bayern Munich from PSV Eindhoven, pulled up during the Atlas Lions’ dominant 3-0 Round of 16 triumph over Canada last Saturday.

Ouahbi Confirms the Absence

Speaking to reporters ahead of the high-stakes European-African rematch, Morocco head coach Mohamed Ouahbi delivered the tough medical update but remained hopeful that Saibari’s tournament isn’t entirely over:

“Everyone is 100 percent fit except Saibari. This game comes too soon for him, but I hope he is not out for the rest of the competition. He’s not ready today, it’s too early… I hope he can be available for the next game.”

A Crucial Void in the Atlas Lions’ Attack

Saibari has been arguably the player of the tournament for the reigning Africa Cup of Nations champions. His absence leaves an immense tactical void for Ouahbi to patch up against the two-time world champions:

• The Group Stage Dominance: Saibari was in blistering form during the opening weeks, cementing his place as Morocco’s chief attacking threat by scoring in all three group-stage fixtures against Scotland, Haiti, and Brazil.
• The Iceman: Prior to his injury against Canada, he also demonstrated nerves of steel by converting the decisive, winning penalty in the high-pressure knockout shootout victory over the Netherlands.
• The Solution: Regular out-and-out striker Soufiane Rahimi—who replaced Saibari off the bench against Canada and subsequently scored Morocco’s third goal—is heavily expected to get the nod to fill the vacancy on the flank.

Setting Up a Historic Rematch

The blockbuster clash in Foxborough serves as a highly anticipated rematch of the dramatic 2022 World Cup semi-final, where France put an end to Morocco’s historic run with a hard-fought 2-0 victory.

Despite losing his primary creative catalyst, Ouahbi insists his team will not compromise their patient, identity-driven style. While Didier Deschamps’ star-studded French team enters the match as heavy favorites fueled by an in-form Kylian Mbappé, the Atlas Lions are riding a spectacular 10-match unbeaten streak and remain completely fearless as they chase an elusive semi-final ticket.