Morocco vs Brazil World Cup 2026 - Injury Concerns After Norway Draw
For its final test before the World Cup, the Moroccan national team drew 1-1 against Norway on Sunday in New York. A match marked by two injury-related substitutions.
Spectators at the Red Bull Arena witnessed an intense duel that ended in a tied score. The Moroccans struck first in the eighth minute thanks to a precise strike from Brahim Diaz. This ideal start prompted Haaland’s teammates to intensify their physical play to break through the defense. Their efforts finally paid off late in the match, when Martin Ødegaard capitalized on defensive confusion to secure the equalizer in the 75th minute.
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Beyond the result, this friendly encounter leaves a bitter taste with the technical staff. During the first half, the team lost Noussair Mazraoui and Abdessamad Ezzalzouli, both forced to leave the field due to injury. Youssef Belammari and Soufiane Rahimi replaced them in an emergency. Medical examinations are now highly anticipated to assess the health status of the players just days before the competition begins.
For this final rehearsal, coach Mohamed Ouahbi made extensive changes to his squad. Ten minutes into the second half, he replaced all his outfield players to gauge their fitness, keeping only Yassine Bounou on the pitch. Despite successive attacks from both sides, the Moroccan goalkeeper and his Norwegian counterpart Nyland Ørjan impressed with their decisive saves, keeping the score frozen until the final whistle.
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Now, the group turns its attention to the opening of this North American tournament. The players will begin serious business on Saturday, June 13 at 11:00 PM against Brazil, on the pitch of MetLife Stadium in New York. They will then face Scotland on Friday, June 19 at the same time in Foxborough, Massachusetts, before closing their group stage against Haiti on Wednesday, June 24 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
