Abdessamad Ezzalzouli, known as Ez Abde, has been ruled out of Morocco’s group-stage matches at the 2026 FIFA World Cup after sustaining a moderate-grade sprain of the medial collateral ligament in his right knee. The injury happened during a pre-tournament friendly against Norway on June 8, 2026, following a collision with teammate Chadi Riad.

The 24-year-old Real Betis winger faces a recovery timeline of 2 to 4 weeks. That window effectively eliminates him from Morocco’s opening fixtures, including a marquee clash against Brazil.

What happened and what comes next

Ezzalzouli was substituted at halftime of the Norway friendly after the on-field collision. Medical examinations confirmed the MCL sprain in his right knee, with the moderate grading suggesting the ligament was partially torn but not fully ruptured.

Morocco’s coaching staff has made the decision not to call up a replacement player. The bet is that Ezzalzouli could recover in time to feature if the Atlas Lions advance past the group stage and into the Round of 16.

Morocco’s World Cup ambitions in context

Morocco captured global attention with their historic run at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, becoming the first African nation to reach the semifinals. The expectation heading into 2026 was that Morocco would build on that foundation. Drawing Brazil in the group stage immediately tests whether this squad can compete at the same level.