Copy linkFacebookXPinterestEmailShare this article 0Join the conversationFollow usAdd us as a preferred source on GoogleNewsletterSubscribe to our newsletterAs Scotland gear up for their first World Cup campaign for 28 years, one of their group stage opponents has been left reeling from a key injury blow.Steve Clarkes men begin their first World Cup campaign since France '98 in the early hours of Sunday morning when they take on Haiti in Boston.Matches against fellow Group C opponents Morocco and Brazil will then follow over the next ten days, as the Scots bid to get out the group stage at a World Cup for the first time in their history.Morocco suffer key injury blowIf Clarkes men are to progress into the knockout stages, a fast start against Haiti - currently at number 83 in FIFAs world rankings - will be necessary, which would then set up what would likely be a pivotal game against Morocco.The African side come into the tournament ranked as the seventh best team in the world and were recently crowned AFCON champions after Senegal were stripped of the title following the controversy-packed final between the two sides back in January. You may like Scotland's World Cup 2026 fixtures: Dates, kick-off times and group stage schedule Scotland squad World Cup 2026: Steve Clarke's final 26-man selection 'Brazil are nowhere near the level they used to be' - Champions League winner gives verdict on Scotland's World Cup chances One of Moroccos key players during that tournament was Real Betis winger Abde Ezzalzouli, but in a potential boost for the Scots is now a key injury doubt for the tournament which kicks off this week.Ezzalzouli was replaced at half-time of Moroccos final World Cup warm-up match against Norway on Sunday with what looked to be a knee problem, while Manchester United defender Noussair Mazraoui was also withdrawn with a partial shoulder dislocation.Get FourFourTwo NewsletterThe best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week.Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.And while Mazraoui looks set to be fit for the tournament, the outlook on Ezzalzouli is not as promising for the Atlas Lions.The 24-year-old was being touted as one of the tournaments breakout stars following a superb season with Betis which saw him net 15 goals and lay on a further 13 assists from the left-hand side.What worries me the most is the injury to two of our players, Noussair Mazraoui and Abde Ezzalzouli. We are waiting for the results of the medical examinations, Morocco boss Mohamed Ouahbi said after the Norway friendly which ended in a 1-1 draw.According to journalist Hanif Ben Berkane, Ezzalzouli has suffered a sprained interal knee ligament and faves a three-to-four week layoff, which will likely rule him out for the entire tournament.Ezzalzouli has recently been linked with a move to Newcastle United as a potential replacement for Anthony Gordon, who joined Barcelona in a �70million move earlier this summer. Ezzalzouli is a former Barcelona academy graduate who scored 15 goals and registered a further 13 assists for Betis last season.Morocco begin their campaign against Brazil on Saturday evening at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey and close it out the group stage against Haiti on Wednesday, June 24.TOPICSMoroccoWorld Cup 2026Joe MewisSocial Links NavigationFor more than a decade, Joe Mewis has worked in football journalism as a reporter and editor. Mewis has had stints at Mirror Football and LeedsLive among others and worked at FourFourTwo throughout Euro 2024, reporting on the tournament. In addition to his journalist work, Mewis is also the author of four football history books that include times on Leeds United and the England national team. Now working as a digital marketing coordinator at Harrogate Town, too, Mewis counts some of his best career moments as being in the iconic Spygate press conference under Marcelo Bielsa and seeing his beloved Leeds lift the Championship trophy during lockdown.
