2026 FIFA WORLD CUP: Morocco Edge Scotland as Saibari’s Record-Breaking Strike Seals Victory

Morocco made the perfect start to their FIFA World Cup clash against Scotland, with Ismail Saibari scoring the fastest goal of the tournament so far to secure a hard-fought 1-0 victory.

The North Africans stunned Scotland just one minute and 40 seconds into the contest when Brahim Díaz threaded a precise assist into the path of Saibari, who calmly fired beyond the Scottish goalkeeper to give Morocco an early lead.

Despite the dream start, the remainder of the match proved to be a fiercely contested affair. Scotland pushed for an equaliser, while Morocco looked to exploit spaces on the counterattack. The first-half strike ultimately stood as the decisive moment of the encounter.

Morocco controlled much of the possession and created the better chances, but were unable to add to their tally. Saibari came agonisingly close to grabbing his second goal of the night in the second half, only to see his powerful effort crash against the woodwork.

Scotland continued to search for a breakthrough until the final whistle, but Morocco’s disciplined defensive display ensured the early goal was enough to secure all three points.

The victory gives Morocco a valuable start to their World Cup campaign, with Saibari’s historic early strike already etched into the tournament’s record books as the fastest goal scored so far.