Morocco's Abde Ezzalzouli Ruled Out of 2026 World Cup with Knee Injury
Moroccan winger Abde Ezzalzouli suffered a sprained internal knee ligament during a friendly against Norway, sidelining him for 3-4 weeks and ruling him out of the 2026 World Cup. The Real Betis player was injured in a corner-kick collision. Coach Mohamed Ouahbi replaced him with Amine Sbaï. Morocco later drew 1-1 with Brazil in their Group C opener at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. The injury is a major blow to Morocco's attacking plans.
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Ez Abde to Treat Knee Injury in France
Moroccan winger Ez Abde, who plays for Real Betis, sustained a knee ligament injury during Morocco's final pre-World Cup friendly against Norway on June 9, 2026. He is scheduled to fly back to Spain on Tuesday, June 16, to spend time with his family in Elche before beginning the first phase of rehabilitation. Abde then plans to travel to France for specialized treatment at a knee injury center. He watched Morocco's World Cup debut against Brazil (1-1) live on Saturday but has now left the national team camp to start recovery. Abde may join Real Betis preseason training later than the scheduled July 7 start, but he is expected to be fully available for manager Manuel Pellegrini by the start of the La Liga season on the weekend of August 14-15.
FútbolAbde to undergo first phase of knee injury recovery in France
Moroccan winger Abde, who plays for Real Betis, has been ruled out of the 2026 World Cup after suffering an internal lateral ligament sprain in his right knee during a friendly match against Norway. After watching Morocco's debut against Brazil, he is returning to Spain today, visiting his family in Elche for a couple of days before flying to France for the first phase of his recovery at a specialized knee injury center. The decision was made jointly by the player and Betis medical staff, aiming both for optimal recovery and mental disconnection from his routine in Seville. No exact return date has been set, but he is expected to be sidelined for just over a month, potentially rejoining Betis preseason under coach Pellegrini in July.
LALIGA EA Sports // marcaAbde to Undergo First Phase of Knee Injury Recovery in France
Moroccan winger Abde, playing for Real Betis, has been ruled out of the 2026 World Cup after suffering an internal lateral ligament sprain in his right knee during a friendly against Norway. He witnessed Morocco's debut against Brazil but was unable to play. The player will return to Spain today, visiting family in Elche for a couple of days before flying to France for the first phase of his recovery at a specialized knee injury center, as agreed with Betis medical staff. No exact timeline has been set for his return, but he is expected to be sidelined for just over a month and could join Betis' preseason under coach Pellegrini in July. The club aims to aid both his recovery and mental disconnection from routine.
LALIGA EA Sports // marcaAbde to Undergo First Phase of Injury Recovery in France
Moroccan and Real Betis winger Abde has been ruled out of the 2026 World Cup after suffering an internal lateral sprain in his right knee during a friendly match against Norway. After watching Morocco's debut against Brazil, he will return to Spain today, visiting his family in Elche for a few days before flying to France for the first phase of his recovery at a specialized knee center. The decision was made jointly by the player and Betis medical staff, aiming to aid both his recovery and mental disconnection from routine in Seville. No exact return date is set, but he is expected to be sidelined for just over a month, potentially rejoining Betis preseason under coach Pellegrini in July.
LALIGA EA Sports // marcaEz Abde Watches Brazil-Morocco World Cup Match with Knee Brace After Injury
Real Betis winger Ez Abde, who suffered a sprain of the internal lateral ligament in his right knee during Morocco's final friendly against Norway last Sunday, attended Morocco's World Cup debut against Brazil at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, which ended in a 1-1 draw. Abde wore an articulated stabilizing knee brace to aid his recovery, which is expected to sideline him for at least four weeks, ruling him out of the World Cup. Real Betis is eligible for FIFA compensation of up to 20,548 per day if his absence exceeds 28 days. It remains unclear if Abde will stay with the Morocco squad or leave the camp. Additionally, his Real Betis teammate Sofyan Amrabat did not play any minutes in the match, as 18-year-old Ayyoub Bouaddi (Lille) has taken over the midfield role after switching allegiance from France's youth teams.
FútbolMorocco Makes Roster Changes Ahead of World Cup Opener Against Brazil
Morocco has made two roster changes just two days before their World Cup Group C opener against Brazil in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Forward Amine Sbai replaces star forward Abde Ezzalzouli, and defender Marwane Saadane replaces fellow defender Nayef Aguerd on Morocco's 26-man squad. The moves address injury concerns as the team prepares for the high-profile match against Brazil.
Yardbarker: SoccerMorocco Forced to Rethink Attack After Abde Ezzalzouli's Last-Minute World Cup Withdrawal
Morocco's World Cup preparations have been dealt a double blow ahead of their opening match against Brazil. While defender Nayef Aguerd's absence due to pubalgia surgery was expected, the sudden withdrawal of key attacker Abde Ezzalzouli with a knee ligament sprain suffered against Norway was unexpected. Ezzalzouli, who had a strong La Liga season with 10 goals and 9 assists for Betis Sevilla, was considered a vital creative force alongside Brahim Diaz. Coach Mohamed Ouahbi has called up Angers winger Amine Sbaï as a replacement, passing over veteran Sofiane Boufal. Several tactical options remain for the Brazil match, including starting Soufiane Rahimi, moving Ismael Saibari to the left to accommodate Ayoub El Kaabi, or using Chemsdine Talbi if recovered. The defense is less affected, with Issa Diop and Chadi Riad expected to start.
Foot - actualités, mercato, info & vidéo en continuAlarm in Morocco as Ez Abde's Injury Threatens World Cup Participation
Moroccan international and Real Betis winger Ez Abde suffered a knee injury during a friendly match between Morocco and Norway. Initial tests suggest a sprain of the internal lateral ligament in his right knee, which could rule him out of the upcoming World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The injury occurred after a collision with teammate Chadi Riad and opponent Sorloth following a corner kick. If confirmed, Abde would be sidelined for three to four weeks, missing the World Cup but potentially returning for Betis' preseason starting July 7. Abde was one of Betis' best players last season, and FC Barcelona retains 20% of his transfer rights with a €60 million release clause.
FútbolMorocco's Abde Ezzalzouli Likely Out of 2026 World Cup with Knee Injury
Morocco's World Cup preparations suffered a major setback as winger Abde Ezzalzouli sustained a sprain of the internal knee ligament during a friendly match against Norway. The Real Betis player was injured in a duel on a corner kick just before halftime and had to be substituted. Initial medical examinations indicate he will miss 3-4 weeks of competition, effectively ruling him out of the 2026 World Cup. The injury is a significant blow to Morocco's national team coach Mohamed Ouahbi ahead of their opening match against Brazil. The match itself saw Morocco take an early lead through Brahim Díaz in the 8th minute, but Norway later equalized. The article was published by Foot Mercato on June 8, 2026.
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