World Cup 2026: Saibari Shines Again, Morocco Takes Top Spot in Group C

Right from the opening whistle, the African side stunned Scotland. In just the second minute, Ismael Saibari once again demonstrated his impressive form with a powerful strike that beat goalkeeper Angus Gunn, putting Morocco ahead. This marks the second consecutive match in which the PSV Eindhoven midfielder has found the net at the 2026 World Cup, following his goal against Brazil in the opening fixture.

The early goal forced Scotland to push forward in search of an equalizer. However, Morocco's well-organized defense made it extremely difficult for Steve Clarke's squad. The most notable chance of the first half came from John McGinn in the second minute of stoppage time, but the Scotland captain's close-range volley was off target.

In the second half, Morocco continued to create more dangerous opportunities. In the 50th minute, Saibari nearly completed a brace when his shot hit the crossbar, much to the disappointment of the North African fans. Hakimi and El Khannouss also repeatedly troubled Scotland's defense with their speedy runs.

On the other end, Scotland mounted a strong comeback in the final 20 minutes. Scott McTominay emerged as the brightest spark in their attack, frequently penetrating the penalty area. In the 81st minute, the Manchester United midfielder went down inside the box, but the referee awarded no penalty to the European side. In the 86th minute, McTominay once again left Scottish fans rueful as his shot from inside the area narrowly missed the post.

In the final stoppage time minutes, Morocco nearly doubled their lead with a thunderous shot from Chemsdine Talbi, but Angus Gunn made an excellent save.

In the end, Morocco defeated Scotland 1-0 thanks to Saibari's lone goal. This result brings the Atlas Lions a big step closer to the Round of 16 at the 2026 World Cup, while Scotland now faces immense pressure ahead of their final group match against Brazil.