Mazraoui injured as Morocco's World Cup prep stumbles

Morocco's preparations for the 2026 World Cup have hit a snag just days before the tournament begins, with full-back Noussair Mazraoui forced off injured during a friendly against Norway (1). The severity of the issue remains unclear, but any absence would be a blow to a Morocco side placed in Group F alongside Belgium, Ukraine, and South Korea. For Canada, this is the kind of pre-tournament disruption every host nation hopes to avoid – a reminder that fitness can shift the competitive landscape in an instant, even before the opening whistle on June 11.