Lagatar24 Desk
Morocco has suffered a major setback ahead of their FIFA World Cup 2026 quarter-final, with star forward Ismail Sabiri ruled out of the crucial clash against France due to injury, head coach Mohamed Ouahbi confirmed at a pre-match press conference on Thursday.
Hamstring Injury from Round of 16 Rules Out Key Forward
Ouahbi said Sabiri has been unable to recover from a hamstring injury sustained during the round of 16 match against Canada, though he expressed hope that the forward would return to fitness soon. Sabiri had scored in all three of Morocco’s group stage matches and also converted a decisive penalty in the shootout against the Netherlands in the round of 32. His absence is expected to force Morocco into adopting a more defensive approach against France.
Argentine Officials to Oversee Match, Sparking Debate
FIFA has assigned the entire officiating duties for the France-Morocco quarter-final to a team of Argentine officials, a decision that has triggered considerable debate, marking the first instance in the 2026 tournament where a match has been fully overseen by officials from a single country.
Head-to-Head Record Favours France
France and Morocco have met six times in the past, with France winning four matches, one ending in a draw, and Morocco claiming a single victory. The two sides also famously faced off in the semi-final of the 2022 World Cup, where Morocco suffered a 2-0 defeat.
