Koné Injured in Qatar Match
Canada's Midfielder Ismaël Koné Undergoes Surgery for Apparent Broken Leg After Qatar Tackle
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Canada claimed its first-ever World Cup victory on June 18, 2026, beating Qatar 1-0 at BC Place in Vancouver. But the historic moment was overshadowed when midfielder Ismaël Koné suffered a gruesome left leg injury in the 78th minute and was rushed to hospital for emergency surgery, according to AP News.
Qatar's Assim Madibo tackled Koné from behind, sending the 24-year-old crashing to the ground. Photos showed his lower left leg appeared broken. Madibo was shown a straight red card after a VAR review, leaving Qatar with just nine men for the final minutes of the match.
A Historic Win Turned Into a Medical Emergency
Jonathan David scored in the 62nd minute to put Canada ahead, and the sold-out crowd of 54,500 at BC Place was celebrating a landmark moment for the host nation. Then the mood shifted fast. Madibo's sliding tackle in the 78th minute caught Koné's left leg as he drove toward the Qatari box, according to Winnipeg Free Press. The match was paused for six minutes while medical staff treated Koné on the pitch, administering oxygen before loading him into an ambulance.
Canada Soccer confirmed Koné reached hospital and went straight into surgery. Reports from The Athletic and TSN indicated the procedure focused on stabilizing a compound fracture of the tibia and fibula — two of the main bones in the lower leg. A full recovery from that type of injury typically takes 8 to 12 months.
Red Cards Pile Up as Qatar Finishes With Nine Men
Madibo's dismissal was Qatar's second red card of the game. Qatar had already lost another player to a 40th-minute sending-off. That left the Qataris shorthanded for a long stretch of the match. Referee Piero Maza of Chile upgraded Madibo's initial yellow card to red after reviewing the tackle on VAR, according to WRAL.
Canada held on to win 1-0 after a full 14 minutes of stoppage time were added to the second half due to Koné's treatment. The result gives Canada four points from two group-stage games — their first-ever World Cup points — putting them in strong shape to advance to the round of 16.
Coach Marsch Shaken as Koné's Absence Looms Large
Canada head coach Jesse Marsch did not hide his distress after the final whistle. "A win feels hollow when you see a young man's career hang in the balance because of a tackle that has no place in the game," Marsch said, according to The Canadian Press. Qatar coach Félix Sánchez Bas offered sympathy but defended his player. "Assim is not a dirty player. It was a high-intensity moment. We pray for Ismaël," he said.
Koné had been Canada's engine in midfield. Without him, the tactical burden falls heavily on Stephen Eustáquio, according to analysts. Koné plays for Olympique de Marseille and had a market value of around €35 million before the injury. A lengthy absence could affect his standing at the club and beyond.
Calls Grow for FIFA to Extend Madibo's Suspension
Fans in Canada reacted with fury on social media. Hashtags like #JusticeForKone and #BanMadibo trended nationally within an hour of the match, according to CBC Sports. Many called on FIFA to go beyond the standard one-match ban that follows a red card and issue a longer suspension for Madibo.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino wished Koné a "speedy recovery" but did not comment on the tackle's legality, saying only that medical protocols were "followed perfectly." Canada Soccer and the Qatar Football Association released a joint statement condemning a wave of online hate speech that followed the incident, according to Action News Jax.
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