Morocco Suffers Major Blow Ahead of World Cup Quarterfinals; Ismaila Sarr to Miss Crucial Match Against France

June 25, Kathmandu – Morocco’s national team has faced a significant setback ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026 quarterfinal match. Key player Ismaila Sarr is confirmed to miss the decisive game against France due to injury. Head coach Mohammed Uhbi confirmed that Sarr will not participate in Thursday’s match in Boston as he has not fully recovered from a hamstring injury. “Except for Sarr, all other players are fully fit. This match has come too soon for him, but I hope he will not have to miss the remainder of the tournament,” Uhbi stated.

Sarr sustained the hamstring injury during Morocco’s 3-0 victory over Canada in the round of 16, forcing him off the field. Recently transferred from Dutch club PSV Eindhoven to German club Bayern Munich on a five-year loan deal worth nearly 50 million euros, Sarr has been one of Morocco’s standout performers in this World Cup. He scored in all three group stage matches and successfully converted the decisive penalty in the shootout against the Netherlands in the round of 32.

In Sarr’s place, Sofiane Rahimi, who scored against Canada, is likely to be included in the starting lineup against France. Coach Uhbi emphasized that the team is not satisfied just to reach the quarterfinals. “Our goal is to win tomorrow’s game and advance to the semifinals. We do not accept thinking that just reaching this stage is enough,” he clearly stated.

Meanwhile, Morocco’s star Brahim Diaz expressed full confidence in his team’s readiness to challenge France. “France is among the top contenders for the title, but we are capable of competing against them. That is why we have come this far. I have complete faith in our team,” he said. Morocco aims to avenge their 2-0 semifinal loss to France in the 2022 World Cup and return to the final four once again on the field.