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Beth Lindop
Multiple Authors
VANCOUVER, British Columbia — Coach Jesse Marsch of Canada expressed that his team was left “shaken” following the injury of midfielder Ismaël Koné, who suffered a broken leg during Thursday’s 6-0 victory over Qatar, calling the midfielder a “huge loss.”
Koné was carried off on a stretcher in the second half following a hard tackle from Qatar’s Assim Madibo.
After the tackle, players quickly signaled for assistance, surrounding Koné on the field.
“I saw his leg. I could tell something was wrong,” said Canadian captain Stephen Eustáquio, one of the first to reach Koné.
A VAR review led to Madibo receiving a red card for the dangerous play, leaving Qatar down to nine players after another dismissal in the first half.
“I haven’t had the chance to talk to Ismaël yet, but he’s in the hospital,” Marsch mentioned during the post-match press conference. “He’s preparing for surgery. I plan to visit him after this presser, and his family is with him, including his mother. This incident occurred right in front of the bench, and we could all hear it. It reminded me of when Tajon [Buchanan] got hurt during training [in 2024].
“Our hearts go out to him; everyone is a bit shaken by the nature of the injury, especially since Ismaël is such a vital part of our team. His absence will be significant; he’s been outstanding in these last two matches.”
Canada later confirmed in a statement that Koné “underwent successful surgery to repair a lower limb fracture” and noted that he is expected to fully recover, although he will be sidelined for the remainder of the World Cup.
In a heartfelt Instagram post, Koné expressed his gratitude for the support he’s received: “I’ll be back very soon, and together we’ll create more memories.”
As Koné was taken off on a stretcher, the home crowd erupted into applause while he waved in acknowledgment.
“He was also waving to the crowd, helping to reassure everyone despite being injured. It speaks volumes about Ismaël’s character,” Marsch remarked. “I’ve been emphasizing for two years the unique spirit of this group, and it shines during both trials and triumphs. Today was a testament to that.”
“Everyone felt crushed when it happened, but we had to stay focused. We knew Ismaël wanted us to complete the task. So many thoughts are swirling through our heads right now. We’re all concerned for him, but proud of who we are as a team. That’s what I want to convey; we’re incredibly proud of our identity, and I believe that was evident today.”
At the conclusion of the match, tensions flared between the benches of Canada and Qatar, including a heated exchange between Marsch and Qatar coach Julen Lopetegui as they shook hands.
While Marsch refrained from elaborating on the incidents, he criticized the behavior of the Qatar sideline.
“To be clear, the player did apologize to Ismaël, coming into the locker room to express his regret. Ismaël made sure the team was aware of that,” he said. “So, I don’t believe he intended to cause such a severe injury. However, I don’t comprehend the response from their bench in trying to provoke a confrontation over a clear red card for a tackle that resulted in a broken leg. It was strange behavior, but ultimately our focus was on Ismaël.”
Nathan Saliba, who came on to replace Koné in the 57th minute, celebrated by raising Koné’s shirt after scoring his team’s fourth goal.
Canada striker Jonathan David, who netted a hat trick, questioned the need for the tackle on Koné.
“If you can’t win the ball, there’s no purpose in making that tackle. It’s just an act meant to injure someone,” he stated.
“We’re certainly going to miss [Koné],” Eustáquio added. “He possesses that special quality we need as a team.”
The injury cast a shadow over an otherwise triumphant day for Canada, who secured their first-ever World Cup victory and rose to the top of Group B.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.