The Moroccan national team suffered a major blow 20 minutes into their Round of 16 match against Canada at the 2026 World Cup, as their top scorer Ismail Saibari was forced to leave the field injured in the 22nd minute. The match saw a difficult start for the 'Atlas Lions' facing clear dominance from the Canadian team led by coach Jesse Marsch.

According to French newspaper L'Équipe, the Canadian team imposed their tempo from the first minutes, benefiting from high pressing and quick attacking transitions, which disrupted the Moroccan defense and forced midfielders to drop back.

Morocco's struggles increased after Saibari's injury. He was one of the team's standout stars in the tournament, having scored three goals since the start of the World Cup. He left the field due to a muscle injury that forced an early exit.

Coach Mohamed Ouhibi brought on forward Sofyan Rahimi as a replacement for Saibari, in an attempt to restore attacking balance.

Rahimi had shone in the group stage by scoring a goal against Haiti, making him one of the reliable attacking options in the Moroccan squad.