The World Cup plans for Morocco have suffered a major setback after winger Abdessamad Ezzalzouli was ruled out for at least three to four weeks with a knee injury, placing his participation in the tournament in serious doubt.
According to multiple reports, initial examinations have revealed a sprain affecting the medial knee ligament, with further medical tests still to be carried out in the coming hours to determine the full extent of the damage.
However, early projections suggest the Real Betis winger could be sidelined for close to a month, a timeline that would effectively rule him out of Morocco’s 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign unless he makes a rapid recovery.
The injury occurred during Morocco’s final warm-up match against Norway, where Ezzalzouli was forced off in the first half after picking up the knock.
The setback came at a crucial moment in Morocco’s preparation phase, just days before the start of the global tournament in North America.
The 22-year-old’s condition is now being closely monitored by the Moroccan medical team, who are awaiting additional scans before making a final assessment on his availability.
The potential absence of Ezzalzouli is a significant concern for head coach Mohamed Ouahbi, who had been finalising tactical plans ahead of a demanding Group C campaign.
Morocco have been drawn alongside Brazil, Scotland and Haiti, with fixtures spread across three major cities in the United States.
Their group stage schedule begins on June 13, 2026, with a high-profile opening clash against Brazil at the New York/New Jersey Stadium (6:00 p.m. ET / 22:00 GMT).
They then face Scotland on June 19 at Boston Stadium, before concluding their group campaign against Haiti on June 24 in Atlanta, all scheduled for 6:00 p.m. ET / 22:00 GMT.
Ezzalzouli’s injury therefore comes at a particularly damaging time, with Morocco aiming to build on their recent strong tournament performances on the global stage.
Losing an attacking option of his profile so close to kick-off leaves the squad with limited time to adjust.
While medical staff have not yet delivered a final verdict, the current outlook remains cautious.
A three-to-four-week recovery window places his participation in serious doubt, depending on whether he can recover and regain match fitness in time.
