Jesse Marsch gives an update on Ismael Kone’s condition after his scary World Cup injury.
Canada’s coach Jesse Marsch shared some tough news after midfielder Ismael Kone broke his leg during the World Cup.
After an exciting start to the tournament, the second round of group games began on Thursday, with six teams playing important matches.
Czechia and South Africa played to a 1-1 draw, leaving both teams uncertain about their chances. Meanwhile, Switzerland won big, beating Bosnia and Herzegovina 4-1, even though Bosnia played with just 10 players.
Canada, one of the hosts for the 2026 World Cup, earned their first win and clean sheet by beating Qatar 6-0 in Vancouver. Jonathan David scored a hat-trick, with help from Cyle Larin, Nathan Saliba, and an own goal by Qatar’s Mohammed Manai, making it the most one-sided game so far.
But there was bad news for Canada too. Kone got seriously injured during the match and had to be taken off on a stretcher before the hour mark. In the 53rd minute, Qatar’s Assim Madibo challenged him and broke his leg, causing a lot of pain.
Fans were quickly concerned about Kone’s health. Coach Marsch, clearly upset by the injury, gave an update after the game, saying Kone is a big loss as Canada pushes to reach the knockout stage.
Marsch said, “You could hear the bone snap. Your heart goes out to him. Everyone’s shaken for him.”
It’s unclear exactly how long Kone will be out, but he’s expected to miss at least 4 to 5 months after surgery. Marsch added, “Ismael is a great kid. He’s not perfect, but that’s why we love him. He can do amazing things but sometimes loses focus. He really represents our team, so this is a huge loss. He’ll be fine with good doctors. He has a bright future and is key for us.”
Marsch also mentioned that Madibo, who was sent off, later apologized in Canada’s dressing room. Still, Jonathan David was honest about the challenge, saying, “If you can’t win the ball, don’t go for it. It’s just to hurt people.”
With this big win, Canada is very close to securing a spot in the knockout rounds. Their final group game against Switzerland will likely decide who finishes first in Group B. Qatar, meanwhile, must beat Bosnia and Herzegovina to keep their chance of advancing alive.