Canada midfielder Ismael Kone ruled out after leg surgery
Canada Soccer said Ismael Kone had successful surgery for a lower-leg fracture and will miss the rest of the 2026 World Cup.
By James Whitfield · Staff Writer
2 min read
Canada will play the rest of the 2026 World Cup without midfielder Ismael Kone after he had surgery on a fractured lower left leg. Canada Soccer said Friday that Kone is expected to recover fully, but his tournament is over.
The injury came during Canada’s 6-0 win over Qatar in a Group B match at BC Place in Vancouver on Thursday, according to Reuters. Canada Soccer said Kone had an operation to repair a lower-limb fracture after the match.
Reuters reported that the surgery repaired fractures to the tibia and fibula in Kone’s left leg. The injury occurred in the 51st minute when Qatar midfielder Assim Madibo challenged Kone and brought him down with his right foot, according to the match account.
Medical staff came onto the field quickly as Kone showed clear pain, Reuters reported. He was taken off on a stretcher and, while sitting up and receiving oxygen, signaled a thumbs-up to supporters.
Canada coach Jesse Marsch said after the match that he heard the bone break. Speaking at a Friday news conference, Marsch said Kone had already been sedated by the time the Canada staff reached him at the hospital and was being prepared for surgery.
Marsch said Kone was calm and confident despite the injury. The coach said Kone was “in really good spirits” and insisted he would be fine.
According to Marsch, the operation lasted about 90 minutes and involved three surgeons. Marsch said the surgeons had seen the injury on television, understood the seriousness of it and were ready when Kone arrived at the hospital.
Marsch said Canada’s medical staff discussed the situation with the hospital team before deciding surgery was the right step. He said the surgeons told the team the procedure went well.
Madibo was sent off after video review of the tackle, Reuters reported. It was Qatar’s second red card of the match, leaving the team with nine players for the remainder of the game. Madibo later apologized to Kone.
Kone’s absence leaves Canada without one of its midfielders before a decisive final group match. Canada will face Switzerland in Vancouver on Wednesday, with both teams on four points from two games, according to Reuters. That match will decide the winner of Group B.
Nathan Saliba replaced Kone and later scored Canada’s fourth goal, Reuters reported. Saliba marked the goal by running to the sideline, holding up a replica of Kone’s Canada shirt and pointing to Kone’s No. 8.
This story draws on original reporting from Al Jazeera.