Morocco beats Scotland 1-0 to move closer to World Cup knockout stage

Morocco moved a step closer to the knockout stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup after securing a 1-0 victory over Scotland on Friday at Gillette Stadium in Boston.

The Atlas Lions controlled much of the match and capitalized on an early opportunity, with Ismael Saibari scoring the game’s only goal in the second minute of play.

Morocco dominated possession throughout the first half, while Scotland relied largely on a compact defensive setup and counterattacking opportunities.

The breakthrough came almost immediately when Ibrahim Diaz delivered a precise through ball to Saibari, who calmly finished past the Scottish goalkeeper to give Morocco the lead.

The goal continued Saibari’s impressive run of form after he also scored in Morocco’s opening 1-1 draw against Brazil.

Morocco created several additional chances before halftime but failed to extend its advantage due to missed opportunities and a lack of composure in front of goal.

Scotland emerged more aggressively after the break, pushing forward in search of an equalizer. However, Morocco maintained control of possession and managed the tempo of the game effectively.

Both teams generated chances during the second half, but neither was able to find the back of the net as Morocco held on for a valuable victory.

The result lifts Morocco to four points and sole possession of first place in Group C. Scotland remains second with three points, while Brazil sits third with one point and Haiti is fourth without a point ahead of its match against Brazil.

Morocco will conclude its group-stage campaign against Haiti on Wednesday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. A positive result would secure the Atlas Lions’ place in the Round of 16 and potentially confirm them as group winners.