FOXBORO – Ismael Saibari sent shockwaves through Boston Stadium when he scored in the second minute against Morocco.
A top-flight strike sealed a 1-0 win over Haiti on Friday, changing both the remaining 88 minutes of that game, the strength of Group C and how the three teams must play to reach the knockout stages.
Advertisement
“I wish we could start again,” said Scotland manager Steve Clarke.
Scotland, who won 1-0 against Haiti in their opening game in Foxborough, did not overreact to the deficit. Clarke didn’t want his side to open themselves up too much chasing an early equalizer against the world number 6 and African champions.
“When you’re chasing a goal against a team like Morocco who are fast, quick, the game is easy,” said Clarke. “After we conceded the first one after 70 seconds, it was very important not to concede the second one.”
1 / 9
Scotland and Morocco will meet at the top of the World Cup at Boston Stadium
Scotland fans inside the stadium before the match against Morocco on Friday, June 19, 2026.
(Pilar Olivares, REUTERS)
1 / 9
Scotland and Morocco will meet at the top of the World Cup at Boston Stadium
Scotland fans inside the stadium before the match against Morocco on Friday, June 19, 2026.
(Pilar Olivares, REUTERS)
2 / 9
Scotland and Morocco will meet at the top of the World Cup at Boston Stadium
June 19, 2026; Foxborough, Massachusetts, US; Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi and Bilal El Khannouss arrived inside the stadium before the match. Mandatory Credit: Photos by David Butler Iimagn
(David Butler Ii, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters)
3 / 9
Scotland and Morocco will meet at the top of the World Cup at Boston Stadium
Scotland defender #22 Nathan Patterson kicks the ball during the 2026 World Cup soccer match between Scotland and Morocco at Boston Stadium in Foxborough on June 19, 2026.
(FRANCK FIFE, AFP via Getty Images)
4 / 9
Scotland’s players gather for the Tartan Army’s World Cup dominance in Boston
Scotland’s Scott McTominay and his teammates line up during the national anthems before the match.
(Peter Cziborra, REUTERS)
5 / 9
One goal is enough to decide Morocco vs. Scotland and changed to Group C
Ismael Saibari of Morocco scored his first goal.
(Paul Rutherford, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters)
6 / 9
Scotland and Morocco will meet at the top of the World Cup at Boston Stadium
Morocco’s Ismael Saibari celebrates scoring his first goal.
(Paul Rutherford, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters)
7 / 9
Scotland and Morocco will meet at the top of the World Cup at Boston Stadium
Andy Robertson of Scotland playing against Neil El Aynaoui of Morocco.
(David Butler Ii, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters)
8 / 9
Scotland and Morocco will meet at the top of the World Cup at Boston Stadium
Scotland defender #13 Jack Hendry and Morocco midfielder #11 Ismael Saibari fight for the ball during the 2026 World Cup soccer match between Scotland and Morocco at Boston Stadium in Foxborough on June 19, 2026.
(FRANCK FIFE, AFP via Getty Images)
9 / 9
Scotland and Morocco will meet at the top of the World Cup at Boston Stadium
Scotland forward #10 Che Adams and Morocco defender #13 Zakaria El Ouahdi fight for the ball during the 2026 World Cup soccer match between Scotland and Morocco at Boston Stadium in Foxborough on June 19, 2026.
(FRANCK FIFE, AFP via Getty Images)
Going ahead by one goal also forced Morocco to defend with intensity and value the ball since the most important thing is more than goals in the World Cup with points at the top.
Advertisement
“When you’re at the World Cup, every game is complicated. It’s difficult,” Morocco manager Mohamed Ouahbi said as translated by FIFA’s interpretation app. “That’s the attraction of it all. You’re going to be up against opponents with different styles.”
Hakimi was unusual: Morocco’s coach says Achraf Hakimi is ‘especially relaxed’ despite the rape charge
It was made harder and harder by Brazil’s 3-0 thrashing of Haiti in Philadelphia. After the second round of matches, both Brazil and Morocco have four points. The Brazilians lead Group C with a +3 goal difference.
To win the group and face Group F runners-up (currently Japan) rather than win Group F (currently leading Sweden), Morocco needs to beat Haiti by at least three goals more than the difference between Brazil and Scotland. Sweden is currently ranked 34th in the world, while Japan is ranked 17th.
Advertisement
“I think we can go very far. We are taking it game by game,” said Saibari. “We have our goals and objectives. We are going to reach them.”
After the defeat, Scotland still have three points after the victory over Haiti. The Scots can move into the qualification discussion automatically by taking down Brazil in Miami on Thursday – a huge task. The nation can also reach the knockout rounds for the first time as one of the top eight third-place teams.
Goggles on: The Scottish star celebrates his nephew on the World Cup stage
1 / 8
The Tartan Army was joined by Moroccan fans at Boston Stadium ahead of the World Cup
Scotland fans party at Patriot Place before the World Cup match against Morocco at Boston Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts on Friday, June 19, 2026.
(Jason Snow / The Patriot Ledger)
1 / 8
The Tartan Army was joined by Moroccan fans at Boston Stadium ahead of the World Cup
Scotland fans party at Patriot Place before the World Cup match against Morocco at Boston Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts on Friday, June 19, 2026.
(Jason Snow / The Patriot Ledger)
2 / 8
The Tartan Army was joined by Moroccan fans at Boston Stadium ahead of the World Cup
Morocco fans party at Patriot Place before the World Cup match against Scotland at Boston Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts on Friday, June 19, 2026.
(Jason Snow / The Patriot Ledger)
3 / 8
The Tartan Army was joined by Moroccan fans at Boston Stadium ahead of the World Cup
Morocco fans march past Patriot Place on their way to Boston Stadium for the World Cup match against Scotland on Friday, June 19, in Foxborough.
(Kyle Grabowski/MetroWest Daily News)
4 / 8
The Tartan Army was joined by Moroccan fans at Boston Stadium ahead of the World Cup
Morocco fans party at Patriot Place before the World Cup match against Scotland at Boston Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts on Friday, June 19, 2026.
(Jason Snow / The Patriot Ledger)
5 / 8
The Tartan Army was joined by Moroccan fans at Boston Stadium ahead of the World Cup
Morocco fans party at Patriot Place before the World Cup match against Scotland at Boston Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts on Friday, June 19, 2026.
(Jason Snow / The Patriot Ledger)
6 / 8
The Tartan Army was joined by Moroccan fans at Boston Stadium ahead of the World Cup
Scotland fans take their seats before the World Cup match against Morocco at Boston Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts on Friday, June 19, 2026.
(Jason Snow / The Patriot Ledger)
7 / 8
The Tartan Army was joined by Moroccan fans at Boston Stadium ahead of the World Cup
Morocco fans party at Patriot Place before the World Cup match against Scotland at Boston Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts on Friday, June 19, 2026.
(Jason Snow / The Patriot Ledger)
8 / 8
The Tartan Army was joined by Moroccan fans at Boston Stadium ahead of the World Cup
Morocco fans march past Patriot Place on their way to Boston Stadium for the World Cup match against Scotland on Friday, June 19, in Foxborough.
(Kyle Grabowski/MetroWest Daily News)
The three points move Scotland clear of the third-placed teams at the moment. Goal difference can mean whether a team goes through or not.
Advertisement
“They want to win the game,” said Clarke. “If they can’t win the game, they don’t want to lose.”
Contact Kyle Grabowski at kgrabowski@gannett.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @kylegrbwsk.
This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: What Ismael Saibari’s goal changed for Scotland Haiti and Group C
