Morocco suffer Saibari blow ahead of World Cup quarter-final against France

Morocco have been dealt a major injury setback ahead of their FIFA World Cup quarter-final against France, with influential midfielder Ismael Saibari ruled out of the clash.

The Atlas Lions will face France looking to avenge their semi-final defeat to Les Bleus at the 2022 World Cup.

Saibari has been one of Morocco’s standout performers at the tournament, scoring in each of the team’s three group-stage matches—a 1-1 draw against Brazil, a 1-0 victory over Scotland and a 4-2 win over Haiti.

The 25-year-old, who completed a move from PSV Eindhoven to Bayern Munich this summer, also converted the decisive penalty in Morocco’s Round of 32 shootout victory over the Netherlands.

However, Saibari was forced off after just 22 minutes with a hamstring injury during Morocco’s 3-0 Round of 16 win over co-hosts Canada.

“He’s not ready but I hope it’s not the end of the tournament for him,” Morocco head coach Mohamed Ouahbi said, according to BBC Sport.

Meanwhile, France have failed in their attempt to overturn the yellow card shown to Michael Olise during their Round of 16 victory over Paraguay.

The Bayern Munich winger was booked after clashing with Paraguay midfielder Matias Galarza in stoppage time of France’s 1-0 win in Philadelphia.

Galarza went to ground after Olise grabbed his shirt during the confrontation.

Read Also: Bayern Munich sign Morocco striker Saibari from PSV

Olise, who has provided five assists at the 2026 World Cup, now risks suspension for a potential semi-final against Spain or Belgium if France beat Morocco and he receives another yellow card.

“The yellow card has not changed. We were notified by FIFA this morning, it has been maintained,” France manager Didier Deschamps said on Wednesday ahead of the quarter-final at Boston Stadium.

Olise’s caution remains in place despite FIFA’s controversial decision to suspend the automatic one-match ban handed to United States striker Folarin Balogun after his red card against Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Balogun was subsequently cleared to feature in the USA’s Round of 16 defeat to Belgium after US President Donald Trump acknowledged he had asked FIFA to review the incident.

Bradley Barcola and Manu Koné were also booked for France against Paraguay, while the South Americans finished the match without receiving a single yellow card from referee Ilgiz Tantashev.

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