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Morocco's head coach Mohamed Ouahbi and Ismael Saibari celebrate after winning in the shootout during the 2026 World Cup round of 32 vs Netherlands at the Monterrey Stadium in Guadalupe on June 29, 2026. [CARL DE SOUZA / AFP]
Morocco will have to attempt one of the biggest upsets of the 2026 FIFA World Cup without one of their brightest stars after coach Mohamed Ouahbi confirmed that influential midfielder Ismael Saibari will miss Thursday's quarter-final against France through injury.
The Bayern Munich midfielder has been one of the standout performers of the tournament, scoring in each of the Atlas Lions’ three group matches before converting the decisive penalty in their shootout victory over the Dutch in the Round of 32.
However, the new Bayern Munich attacker suffered a hamstring injury during their convincing 3-0 win over Canada in the round of 16, and has failed to recover in time for the last-eight showdown at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts.
