Read 4 minutes19 Jun 2026 02:03 PM IST
Canada’s first win in 40 years since its World Cup debut should have sent cheers throughout the host nation. Instead, concern and worry prevailed following the injury to Ismail Kone in the second half.
Qatar midfielder Asim Madibo’s reckless and late tackle sealed Les Rouges’ 6-0 win in Vancouver on Friday. Madibo was sent off and later apologized to Kone, but the damage was done: the 24-year-old had to be taken off a stretcher and rushed to a local hospital, where he was being prepared for surgery.
Meanwhile the Canadian players were almost thrashing on the pitch with Madibo and Co, showing their anger as Kone was cruelly excluded from the rest of the tournament. The controversy reignited after the full-time whistle with coaches Jesse Marsh and Julen Lopetegui on the run.
Hat-trick striker Jonathan David clearly called a tackle after the match.
“There’s no point in having a game where you can’t win the ball,” he said. “It’s just to hurt people.”
The injury shaped the home team’s calm determination after the incident. Nathan Saliba, who replaced Kone, scored the fourth goal and immediately held up his team-mate’s shirt in tribute.
Marsh didn’t hide his emotion during the second hydration break, as tears streamed down his cheeks. “I said at the water break that he wanted us to finish the game – and the boys did just that.”
An unwavering brotherhood 🇨🇦
Thinking of our brother Isma right now. Here’s to you, 8️⃣ pic.twitter.com/Ac7EdjrznX
— CANMNT (@CANMNT_Official) 19 June 2026
For the visitors, forward Yusuf Abdurisagh refused to talk about the horror episode, but praised his teammates for their resilience after Homam Ahmed was sent off in the first half. Qatar played 40-plus minutes with nine men.
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Canadian captain Stefan Eustaquio, one of the first players to reach the corner, knew “something wasn’t right” as soon as he saw the Sassuolo midfielder’s leg. Describing the events that followed, Eustaquio expressed his displeasure at Qatar for giving Madibo a straight red card.
“They tried to defend their players, and we tried to defend ours. I think it’s normal, they want to go further in this tournament, but at the same time it’s a clear red. Like, there’s no disputing that he basically broke his leg. They wanted a yellow, but it doesn’t make sense to me,” he told reporters.
Looking ahead
Cone fractured his fibula and tibia, and is expected to be out of action for at least three months, depending on how the surgery and subsequent recovery goes. His injury seemed to further unite the Canadian players, evident in their reactions and post-match commotion.
Les Rouges are one step away from sealing an unprecedented knockout berth. They next face Switzerland on June 25, a win that would guarantee them top spot in Group B.
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They’ve already made history and, in Marsh’s words, given Canada an “incredible, seminal” moment. “No one will forget this. No Canadian will forget this day. There will be 40 million people who said they were here when it happened,” he added for emphasis.
But through it all, Kone lives on in their minds and is surely remembered. As the coach said: “Everyone is a bit shaken by the whole experience because of the nature of the injury and Ismail being a big part of the heart of our team. It will be a big loss for us.”