RIYADH: Scotland spent almost 89 minutes searching for a response, but the damage had already been done. Ismael Saibari’s goal in the second minute of the game proved enough to give Morocco a 1-0 victory in Foxborough and send the Atlas Lions to the top of Group C.
Saibari’s goal is now officially the fastest scored at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Seventy-one seconds was all it took for the forward to make his mark against the Tartan Army.
Just ahead of the halfway line, Brahim Diaz scanned the front line for Saibari. A perfectly threaded lob followed, with Saibari timing his run to receive the pass behind the Scottish defense. He took a touch, with pressure yet to arrive from the stunned back line, before unleashing a scorcher beyond Angus Gunn. The ball flew into the net and lodged in the top corner at a perfect angle.
Head coach Mohamed Ouahbi implemented a similar playbook to Morocco’s 1-1 draw against Brazil. Scotland, however, were nowhere near as threatening, failing to muster a shot until first-half stoppage time.
Morocco were happy to allow Scotland possession without pressing high, setting up in a mid-block near the halfway line before closing down ball-carriers central areas.
From there, the Atlas Lions used their speed and skill on the counterattack, coming close to a second on more than one occasion.
In the ninth minute, Azzedine Ounahi delivered a dangerous pass into the box only for Saibari and Diaz to read his intentions too late. In the 30th, Saibari and Bilal El-Khannouss linked up to feed Ounahi just outside of the area, but his shot flew over the bar.
But it was in the 35th minute where Morocco will feel they should have killed off the game. After possession was won in Scotland’s half, Saibari drove toward the goal, with El-Khannouss open in the space behind Nathan Patterson. Despite having a clear chance, he failed to take a touch and sent the ball flying over.
It was at that point Scotland emerged from their passivity and started to threaten Yassine Bounou’s goal. A cross from the right flank was not capitalized on by the Scottish forwards, but the ball fell to Andy Robertson on the left. His whipped cross to the far post could only be deflected by John McGinn for a goal kick.
The pressure resumed quickly in the second half. The Scottish bench called for a penalty in the 48th minute after McGinn went down under a challenge from Neil El-Aynaoui, but after the referee waved away the appeals, Morocco struck with a rapid counter. The move ended with Saibari’s deflected shot bouncing off the crossbar.
The corner that followed was equally as threatening, with El-Aynaoui’s header forcing Gunn into a strong save.
Morocco once again failed to capitalize on a golden chance to put the game to bed. In the 77th minute, Diaz found himself through on goal but hesitated to shoot, keeping Morocco vulnerable to a potential Scotland equalizer.
That equalizer almost came in the 85th minute. Scott McTominay received the ball just outside the area, burst past his marker and unleashed a shot that was deflected into the side netting.
McTominay threatened again three minutes later, receiving the ball inside the 6-yard box with his back to goal. However, Chadi Riad produced an important block, with the deflected effort comfortably gathered by Bounou.
Morocco were made to work for the result, but their discipline ultimately proved decisive. After overwhelming Scotland in the opening stages and taking the lead inside two minutes, the Atlas Lions showed a different side to their game, absorbing pressure and protecting their advantage when it mattered most.
After the victory, Morocco move to the top of Group C on four points following their draw with Brazil. They face Haiti in their final group-stage match on June 25 at 1 a.m. Saudi time.
