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.
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