Ismael Saibari (L) celebrates with teammate Bilal El Khannouss after scoring for Morocco against Scotland at the World Cup on Friday (FRANCK FIFE)
Ismael Saibari scored the fastest goal of the World Cup so far after just 71 seconds as Morocco beat Scotland 1-0 on Friday to close in on a place in the knockout rounds.
Saibari scored in Morocco's opening 1-1 draw with Brazil last weekend and his clinical finish with just over a minute gone settled a hard-fought, physical contest watched by a crowd of 64,146 at the Gillette Stadium near Boston.
The 25-year-old, who was born in Spain and raised in Belgium, is reportedly on the brink of a 55 million-euro ($63m) transfer from Dutch champions PSV Eindhoven to Bayern Munich.
The quality of his strike past goalkeeper Angus Gunn showed why he is attracting such interest, and it was telling that Scotland lacked the same quality in the opposition box -- that helps explain why Morocco are ranked fifth in the world, and Scotland 40th.
With four points from two games, Morocco are now primed to advance to the last 32 as they aim to at least match their historic run to the semi-finals in Qatar in 2022.
However, it was a sobering evening for Scotland and their army of fans who have taken over Boston during this World Cup, as their team never really tested Morocco goalkeeper Yassine Bounou.
The laboured 1-0 win over Haiti in their opening game at the same stadium last weekend -- which was their first victory at a World Cup since 1990 -- gave them a platform to build on and reason to believe they can progress beyond the group stage at a World Cup for the very first time.
Another win here would have secured progress from Group C, but their chances of going further remain up in the air going into their next match against Brazil in Miami next Wednesday.
Morocco, whose captain Achraf Hakimi started hours after it was confirmed he must stand trial in France on rape charges, face Haiti in Atlanta next.
- Scots lack cutting edge -
Moroccan coach Mohamed Ouahbi went with an unchanged starting line-up here following the Brazil clash, but opposite number Steve Clarke made three changes.
Clarke sought to reinforce his defence, meaning striker Lawrence Shankland dropped out as defender Kieran Tierney came into the side to make a back five.
But that was of little use as Morocco went ahead practically from kick-off.
The assist came from Real Madrid's Brahim Diaz and Grant Hanley played Saibari onside as the latter latched onto the ball over the top, controlled and rifled high into the net.
Morocco, who defeated Scotland 3-0 when the teams met at the 1998 World Cup, threatened to overrun their opponents every time they got forward but were wasteful, with Bilal El Khannouss squandering a good chance on 36 minutes.
Scotland were as stodgy in attack as they have been for a long time, and it took until first-half stoppage time for them to create anything dangerous.
That was a cross whipped in from the left by skipper Andy Robertson that John McGinn was unable to make anything of, and the opening period ended without Bounou needing to make a save.
Morocco hit the woodwork five minutes into the second half as Saibari met a cutback by El Khannouss and his attempt was deflected onto the bar by Jack Hendry.
Moments later Gunn made a fine stop to keep out an El Khannouss header from a corner taken by Hakimi, who was regularly booed by the crowd.
Morocco nevertheless seemed content to see the game out and soak up what Scotland could throw at them.
Ryan Christie fired over on 64 minutes after being teed up by Scott McTominay, who hit the side-netting late on, but a Scotland goal proved elusive.
Scotland conceded after just 70 seconds to fall to a World Cup defeat against a classy Morocco, but their hopes of a historic knockout place remain in their own hands with one group game to go.
Head coach Steve Clarke had asked for the "footballing Gods to be smiling down on us" – with the knowledge one point would all-but confirm their progression out of Group C - but the Scots made the worst possible start.
Sloppy defending allowed Ismael Saibari to rocket the Africa Cup of Nations champions - ranked the sixth best team in the world - into a sensational lead inside the opening two minutes.
Clarke shuffled his pack from Saturday's victory against Haiti, with Celtic defender Kieran Tierney starting on the left of midfield in an apparent attempt to man-mark Morocco captain Achraf Hakimi.
That plan was pulled apart, though, when centre-backs Grant Hanley and Jack Hendry allowed Saibari to scoot in behind and sensationally flash his side in front.
The strike sucked the life out of the jubilant Tartan Army, who again bounced down to the Boston Stadium full of optimism. They were swiftly left fearing the worst.
While Morocco - who drew with Brazil last weekend - were far superior in every department, they didn't dismantle the Scots.
Clarke's men had a fine opportunity to equalise before the break but John McGinn sliced his back-post effort.
The chance punctuated a promising end to an otherwise painful first-half, and the Aston Villa captain carried that momentum into the second half as he made a claim for a penalty.
It wasn't forthcoming from stop-start referee Ilgiz Tantashev. While frustrations were still being vented in his direction, thanks were soon being given to Hendry for his last-ditch block and to Angus Gunn for his reflexes to thwart Bilal El Khannouss.
While Gunn's opposite number, Yassine Bounou, was rarely bothered, the Scots again clamoured for a spot-kick when Scott McTominay hit the deck. Again, no dice. Less ambiguity about that one, though.
The Napoli midfielder's deflected effort then had half the stadium celebrating all for it to hit the side netting, before substitute Lyndon Dykes directed a header wide.
From the worst start to a hopeful and promising end, Clarke's side will carry that hope into their final group game against Brazil on Wednesday – live on the BBC – as they go for history.
Analysis: Slow start but reasons for encouragement
From the worst imaginable start, things didn't take the turn many Scotland fans would have feared they might.
The script – tightening up the left flank and asking Tierney to follow Hakimi around like a dog – was ripped apart before many punters had taken their seats.
Against Brazil, Morocco displayed not only their class but their tendency to start strongly. Scotland were well aware of the threat, they just couldn't contain it.
But once their shape solidified and they settled, Clarke's side managed to stifle their opponents somewhat.
Sure, they still rode their luck and collective gulps were taken a number of times as the African champions moved the ball about with ease and searched for a second, but there wasn't a capitulation of any kind.
Instead, there was control and aggression as the game grew on, opening the door to the optimism once more.
The introduction of the electric and energetic Ben Gannon-Doak was vital, with a natural winger willing and keen to test a tiring Moroccan backline.
The decision to start Tierney can be understood, but perhaps the lively Bournemouth wide man would have offered an earlier outball.
A confusing end, where few knew if the final whistle had peeped, saw the boys in dark blue scattered around with their hands on their heads and knees.
They gave it a real go after a nightmarish start. Something to take to Miami…
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Who: Germany vs Ivory Coast What: FIFA World Cup 2026 Group E match Where: Toronto Stadium, Toronto, Canada When: Saturday, 4pm (20:00 GMT) How to follow: Keep up with all updates on Al Jazeera Sport
One of the most mouthwatering matches in the second round of games in the World Cup 2026 group stage sees four-time champions Germany facing a talented Ivory Coast outfit in Toronto on Saturday evening.
Kai Havertz has scored in four straight major tournaments for Germany, despite not being a recognised No 9 [Annegret Hilse/Reuters]
Germany under the radar?
After disappointing group-stage exits in 2018 and 2022, Germany came into this tournament somewhat under the radar, with the perennial powerhouse ranked only seventh-favourites to lift their fifth World Cup.
While they turned on the style thanks to young stars like Jamal Musiala and Florian Wirtz to pile on the goals against Curacao – the smallest nation by size and population ever to have taken part in a World Cup – and the goals have flowed in 10 straight wins, this will be a far stiffer test.
Curacao caused the German defence a few problems, especially in the opening half-hour, and it’s their pivotal central-defensive pairing of Jonathan Tah and Nico Schlotterbeck, playing in front of 40-year-old keeper Manuel Neuer, that will ultimately decide how deep the Germans can go in this tournament.
Dynamic Arsenal attacking midfielder Kai Havertz continued his recent goalscoring run for club and country with a double for Germany in the opening game, but he will likely find the Ivory Coast defence a harder challenge than that posed by Curacao’s backline.
By winning their group opener, Germany did what they couldn’t in 2018 and 2022 and appear certain to progress to a first knockout match since the 2014 World Cup Final. Whether they advance as group winners, or limp through in the minor places, might well come down to the result in Toronto.
A win against Ivory Coast would secure direct top-two qualification to the Round of 32 and would likely be enough to top Group E should Ecuador fail to beat Curacao four hours later in Kansas City.
In an alternate scenario, even with a German victory against Ivory Coast, Ecuador – if they can beat both Curacao and then the Germans in Thursday’s group finale – would make things very interesting, with the potential for three teams – Germany, Ivory Coast and Ecuador – to be locked on six points and tiebreakers needed to separate them.
It matters because the team finishing first will play a third-placed qualifier, while the runner-up will face the team finishing second in the group featuring France, Norway, Senegal and Iraq, and the team qualifying third would face a group winner, potentially England or Mexico.
The Elephants might have ridden their luck, but ending Ecuador’s 19-match unbeaten streak across nearly two years in their opening game caught the eye of their fan base and will have raised expectations.
Amad Diallo’s last-minute winner ensured Ivory Coast have now won a game at all four World Cups for which they have qualified, and they can reach the knockout stages for the first time, if they defeat Germany.
In fact, they can seal top spot in Group E should they beat Die Mannschaft and Ecuador fail to beat Curacao in the other group game later on Saturday evening.
A draw against Germany would make for an intriguing group finale on Thursday night, as it would likely leave all three teams in with a chance of finishing first going into the final game, with Ivory Coast potentially needing to beat Curacao by more than six goals to ensure supremacy on goal difference.
How does the group stage work?
Germany, Ivory Coast, Ecuador and Curacao are in Group E.
They will play each other once in the initial stage of the tournament. The top two teams from each of the 12 groups – along with the eight best third-placed teams – will proceed to the next phase, the round of 32, which has been introduced at the World Cup for the first time.
Head-to-head
This will be just the second meeting between Germany and Ivory Coast.
The previous game was a friendly in November 2009, which saw Lukas Podolski score twice, including a last-gasp equaliser in a 2-2 draw.
Form guide:
(Last five games, latest match first)
Germany: W-W-W-W-W
Ivory Coast: W-W-W-W-L
Germany’s thumping win over Curacao last Sunday means they have won 10 straight games going back to September 2025 and have scored two or more goals in nine of those matches.
They have, however, struggled at the opposite end of the pitch, conceding goals in seven straight World Cup matches, their longest run since 1970, and their last clean sheet came in the 2014 final against Argentina in Brazil.
Ivory Coast go in search of a fifth straight victory, and confidence is high after both the Ecuador triumph last Sunday, which followed their 2-1 win against world number-three France in their final warm-up game in Paris on June 4.
Their last defeat came in the AFCON quarterfinal against Egypt in January.
5 - Last night for @equipenatciv vs Ecuador, Yan Diomande became the first player Opta has on record since 1966 to create 5+ chances (5), make 5+ tackles (5), win 10+ duels (11) and have 10+ touches in the opposition’s box (12) in a FIFA World Cup match.
Coach Julian Nagelsmann might well keep faith with the same XI that eventually put Curacao to the sword, but if he does, it might be tough on Deniz Undav.
The Stuttgart forward came off the bench to replace Jamal Musiala with 26 minutes to go and scored and provided two assists as Germany picked up their biggest win since the 2014 semifinal against Brazil. The versatile Undav has scored seven times and added four assists in just 10 appearances for Die Mannschaft.
Team news: Ivory Coast
Ivory Coast coach Emerse Fae likely has more decisions to make.
Elye Wahi started the win over Ecuador up front before being replaced just before the hour by Ange-Yoan Bonny.
He was initially denied entry into Canada for this match due to visa complications. He was linked to a sports betting scandal while playing for Nice in Ligue 1 last month, but has since been authorised to travel and could yet be involved.
Bonny and unused subs from the first game, Oumar Diakite and Evann Guessand, are alternative options in attack.
Diallo came off the bench to win it, and the Manchester United attacking midfielder will be pushing to start, which might mean a switch of flanks for teenage starlet Yan Diomande, who stole the show on the right against Ecuador and will be eager to put on a show against the nation in which he plays for RB Leipzig.
Y. Fofana (goalkeeper); Doue, Singo, Agbadou, Konan; Diallo, Kessie, S. Fofana, Diomande; Bonny, Toure.
You can follow the action on Al Jazeera’s dedicated FIFA World Cup 2026 page with all the latest news, match build-up and live text commentary and keep up to date with group standings, real-time match results and schedules.
Teboho Mokoena scored an 83rd-minute penalty to earn South Africa a draw against the Czech Republic at the World Cup.
South Africa trailed after five minutes and seven seconds when Michal Sadilek latched on to a clever lay-off and rifled home the earliest goal of the tournament so far.
Bafana Bafana, who also conceded early against Mexico in their tournament opener, eventually settled into the game and slowed down play, but they struggled to create chances and only managed their first shot on target in the 74th minute.
But their fortunes finally changed as Thapelo Maseko's shot thundered into Pavel Sulc's arm in the Czech box with less than 10 minutes of normal time remaining.
Mokoena made no mistake with the finish, slotting into the left corner.
A point does little to help either side and their chances of qualifying for the knockout stages remain in the balance, with Mexico and South Korea above them in the Group A table.
However, with the eight best third-placed teams progressing to the last 32 and three points likely to be enough to secure a place in the knockout stages, South Africa and the Czech Republic still have it all to play for in their final group games.
South Africa face South Korea on Thursday, 25 June at 02:00 BST, while the Czechs will take on co-hosts Mexico in the Azteca at the same time.
South Africa scored a penalty seven minutes from full-time as they fought back to draw 1-1 with the Czech Republic at the World Cup after falling behind early in the Group A clash.
Teboho Mokoena slotted home the spot kick after Pavel Sulc’s handball handed the South Africans a lifeline on Thursday as they were staring at potential early elimination.
The Czechs led from the sixth minute when Michal Sadilek struck home after a clever slipped pass from Alexandr Sojka following Adam Hlozek’s delivery from the right wing.
Both teams now have a point after losing their respective opening games – two behind cohosts Mexico and South Korea, who face-off later on Thursday.
South Africa next face South Korea, while the Czech Republic take on the daunting task of playing Mexico in the Estadio Azteca.
Both sides started with disappointing performances and defeats on the World Cup’s opening day, but the Czechs quickly set about making amends.
Patrik Schick is the biggest name in a Czech side lacking the star quality of previous generations but the Bayer Leverkusen forward missed a glorious chance inside the first minute when he planted a header wide.
Miroslav Koubek’s men only had to wait another five minutes to take the lead.
Adam Hlozek’s cross was classily cushioned by Alexandr Sojka into the path of Sadilek, who calmly stroked the ball past Ronwen Williams.
Sadilek celebrates scoring for Czechia [Nathan Ray Seebeck/Reuters]
Now in their fourth attempt, South Africa have never progressed beyond the group stage at the World Cup.
Hugo Broos has overseen an upturn in Bafana Bafana’s fortunes since taking charge five years ago.
The 2010 hosts had not qualified for the World Cup since 2002 but finished third at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
Their return to the global stage has exposed a lack of quality, though, particularly in forward areas.
The Czechs were left to rue not making more of their chances to kill the game off early in the second half.
Vladimir Darida took too long to get his shot off with a big chance before Lukas Cerv’s long-range effort was tipped over by Williams.
There were thousands of empty seats on show at the futuristic home of the NFL’s Atlanta Falcons, but those that were in attendance loudly booed the mid-half hydration breaks in an enclosed and air-conditioned stadium.
The majority of the crowd were backing South Africa and finally had something to cheer seven minutes from time.
Thapelo Maseko’s shot hit the arm of the unfortunate Pavel Sulc and referee Tori Penso, part of an all-female officiating team, pointed to the spot.
Mokoena confidently drilled home the spot-kick for his nation’s first World Cup goal in 16 years.
They came close to a second five minutes later when Matej Kovar saved from Relebohile Mofokeng.
But both sides had to settle for a point that could yet prove vital come the end of Wednesday’s final Group A games.
Nestory Irankunda, Antonio Rudiger and Alphonso Davies are representing Australia, Germany and Canada respectively at the World Cup - and all have links to Africa as refugees [BBC]
When Antonio Rudiger entered the fray as a substitute during Germany's World Cup opener - a 7-1 victory over Curacao at the Houston Stadium - he knew his large extended family would be watching on proudly.
But things could have been very different if the Real Madrid defender's parents had not managed to flee Sierra Leone's decade-long civil war for a new life in Europe.
"There was only the decision to get out of there," Rudiger told BBC Sport Africa.
"I spoke many times with my brother about it, and he told me the stories of what he saw there and what a march they made from Kono [the family's home district in the far east of Sierra Leone] to the capital city to find a bit of safety."
The distance between Kono and the capital Freetown is approximately 210 miles (340km) and the journey proved perilous, with Rudiger's uncle taking extreme action to prevent his nieces and nephews being swept up by rebels and turned into one of the thousands of child soldiers forced into battle during the conflict.
"[He] hid them in a bag of rice and then went back to get them and then to continue the journey," Rudiger added. "And sometimes they had to lay low, pretending they [were] dead to not get shot or to not get abducted."
Rudiger, the youngest of six siblings, was born in Berlin after his family were accepted by Germany as refugees, while other relatives began new lives in other places such as the UK and the US.
The 33-year-old remembers growing up in one of Germany's refugee centres.
"We had our room, then a family next to us had their room, so we were all together," he said.
"It influenced me a lot because nothing is given in life. You have to work for things, you have to sacrifice a lot to get where you sometimes get your goal."
In a tournament in which diaspora players and fans have already made their mark, the two-time Champions League winner says now is "the right time to raise a voice" in support of refugees - and he is not alone.
Alphonso Davies, captain of co-hosts Canada, spent his early years in a Ghanaian refugee camp after his parents fled Liberia, which like Sierra Leone was devastated by civil war during the 1990s and early 2000s.
"Canada means a lot to me," the Bayern Munich full-back told the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), which has put together a symbolic "game-changing team" of refugee players to show "what is possible when young people displaced by war and persecution find safety, opportunity and welcome".
Davies listed "going to school for the first time, being able to play the sport that I love and being able to make friends" among his memories of his adoptive country. "They welcomed us in with open arms."
"They gave me the opportunity to be who I am and to be what I want to be in life."
Former Bosnia goalkeeper Asmir Begovic - who like Rudiger was welcomed by Germany after escaping war in the Balkans when he was four years old.
Striker Ali Al-Hamadi, whose family fled Iraq after his father was jailed by Saddam Hussein's regime.
Australia is also represented by a trio of forwards in the national team: Watford's Nestory Irankunda, Norwich's Mohamed Toure and Awer Mabil, who plays for Castellon in Spain's second tier.
Irankunda's strike in their 2-0 win over Turkey made the 20-year-old the Socceroos' youngest World Cup goalscorer.
Irankunda, Toure and Mabil nwere either born or grew up in African refugee camps but are now getting the chance to impress on football's biggest stage.
Australia's professional footballers' association is so proud of the squad's multicultural makeup that it made a video with every player listing their place of birth or family heritage to showcase the benefits of immigration.
"Children and youth are among the most vulnerable during displacement from war, violence and persecution," said Barham Salih, high commissioner for refugees with the UN, which estimates that there are 48.8 million displaced children around the world.
"Some are separated from their families, affected by trauma, and some suffer abuse."
But while players with backgrounds as refugees will be cheered at the World Cup, some of those involved in the UN campaign have concerns about changing global perceptions.
"The narrative goes a bit more blaming the refugees," said Rudiger, who believes empathy for the plight of those escaping conflict has diminished.
"Obviously, you have always the good and the bad. This is life, we all are not perfect. But the thing is, if one person does bad, are all bad?
"You cannot smear it on everyone, because that's not fair. Because you have people who come here, they really want to change their life, they're doing good, they're trying to learn.
"They learn the language, they go to school, they achieve something in life."
In January 2025, immediately after his inauguration, US President Donald Trump signed an executive order suspending the US Refugee Admissions Programme (USRAP).
Trump said the move would allow US authorities to prioritise national security and public safety.
Since it was launched in 1980, USRAP has led to approximately 3.7 million refugees admitted into the States, including 504,000 Africans.
In October, the Trump administration said it would limit the number of refugees to 7,500 over the current US fiscal year, giving priority to white South Africans following Trump's widely discredited claims of a "genocide" against Afrikaners.
Recent figures from the US Department of State show that 6,069 refugees were admitted in the seven months from October to April - and all but three of them came from South Africa.
In contrast, during the final full year of President Joe Biden's term, 100,034 refugees were accepted into the US, with 34,017 from 32 African nations. The Democratic Republic of Congo saw the highest number (19,923), with Somalia (4,801), Eritrea (2,411) and Sudan (2,184) also prominent.
The decision to cut refugee acceptance numbers to a record low has been defended by the Trump administration as being "justified by humanitarian concerns or is otherwise in the national interest", but was opposed by campaigners.
US President Donald Trump was the inaugural recipient of the Fifa Peace Prize, collecting the award from Fifa president Gianni Infantino last December [Getty Images]
"Sadly, right now, the most vulnerable in Africa and across the world have been shut out entirely," Krish O'Mara Vignarajah, president and chief executive of Global Refuge, a non-profit organisation which has previously worked with the State Department to resettle refugees, told BBC Sport Africa.
"What we will see [at the World Cup] is the US spending this summer celebrating, as they should, what humans can achieve when they're given a chance.
"US policymakers have spent the past year making sure fewer people get that chance, and it is a stark and deeply troubling contradiction."
Meanwhile in Canada, the annual number of refugees being accepted has increased over the last decade – even as policymakers in recent years have shifted towards more restrictive immigration policies of their own.
Over a 10-year period, data from the country's Refugee Protection Division (RPD) reveals that 9,972 refugees claims were accepted in 2016, rising to 50,067 in 2025.
Thirty-eight African nations were represented in Canada's most recent figures, with Nigeria seeing the highest number of claims accepted.
The USA hosted its first World Cup in 1994, a year in which more than 100,000 refugees were resettled in the country.
"We knew back then that hosting the world and welcoming the world were not separate ideas," said O'Mara Vignarajah. "But we have seem to have forgotten that."
Star players like Rudiger and Davies hope to jog people's memories as they turn out for the nations which welcomed them and their families.
South Africa coach Hugo Broos told critics of his tactics in last week’s World Cup opener to “shut up” and insisted he would continue to do things his way when planning for his team’s Group A clash against Czechia.
There was an outcry in South Africa when Broos took a rare defensive approach in the tournament’s opening match against Mexico last Thursday, which his team lost 2-0 without creating any genuine chances of their own.
Bafana Bafana, as South Africa’s team is known, also finished down to nine men, with two players sent off in the second half, and left little positive impression.
“I’ve been a coach for 40 years, and I know it’s a part of the job that you will be criticised. So for the moment, I’m criticised, but people have to know… and for those who still don’t know it… I do it my way,” Broos said at a news conference on Wednesday.
“I never listen to the trash of the social media. I never listen to people who feel they are important enough to criticise the team. When I look back at what they achieved before, I think it should be better that they shut up,” he said in a reference to former player pundits.
“I know what went wrong against Mexico. The players know it, and that’s the most important thing, and for the rest, I will do it my way,” Broos repeated.
The veteran Belgian coach said it was imperative for South Africa to win on Thursday in Atlanta to stand any chance of advancing. The Czechs also lost their first Group A game to South Korea last week.
“I think our situation is clear. If we don’t win tomorrow, we play our last game against South Korea for nothing.
“This is something we must avoid. We know the mistakes we made in the first game, and some people said the coach is too soft on his players, but I don’t like to blame my players in front of a camera. So, sometimes you have to lie a little bit as a coach.”
Broos had said after the Mexico match that he felt his team could be confident after the performance, also prompting derision among some South African supporters.
“We know what went wrong in the game against Mexico, and we will try to improve that tomorrow, but we can only improve that if we have the ball,” he added, giving some insight into the possibility of a different tactical approach on Thursday.
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