Morocco took very little time to score the first goal of the match to take a 1-0 lead over Scotland.
With 1:10 elapsed in the match, Ismael Saibari took a pass down the right side from Brahim Díaz and blasted a kick past Scottish goalkeeper Angus Gunn before the two-minute mark. It was the fastest goal scored thus far in the 2026 World Cup.
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(Later on Friday, Paraguay’s Matia Galarza bested Saibari by 5 seconds versus Türkiye.)
However, as quickly as Saibari scored, his goal wasn’t among the 10 fastest scored in World Cup history. Here are the 10 quickest scores, led by Turkey’s Hakan Sukur scoring 11 seconds into its match versus South Korea in 2002.
1. Hakan Sukur – 11 seconds in 2002
2. Vaclav Masek – 15 seconds in 1962
3. Ernest Lehner – 25 seconds in 1934
4. Bryan Robson – 28 seconds in 1982
5. Clint Dempsey – 30 seconds in 2014
6. Bernard Lacombe – 31 seconds in 1978
7. Arne Nyberg – 35 seconds in 1938
7. Emile Veinante – 35 seconds in 1938
9. Florian Albert – 50 seconds in 1962
9. Adalbert Desu – 50 seconds in 1930
9. Seung Zin Pak – 50 seconds in 1966
12. Celso Ayala – 52 seconds in 1998
13. Mathias Jorgensen – 55 seconds in 2018
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World Cup 2026: Daily schedule | Group schedule, results | Standings
After allowing that early goal so quickly, Scotland continued to look overwhelmed throughout the first half against Morocco’s attack. Saibari nearly got another scoring chance at the 10′ mark, while Bilal El Khannouss got a shot off but high and wide at 36′.
Scotland had never won a World Cup match after trailing at halftime. Presumably feeling the urgency of needing a win to advance past the group stage, Scotland was more aggressive in the Morocco zone and worked to control the ball.
However, after Lewis Ferguson could do little with a free kick, Scotland’s advantage soon faded as Morocco shook off the early rush. Scotland never created a decent chance for the equalizer.
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At the 86-minute mark, Scotland got two excellent chances for the tying goal, applying pressure in front of the Moroccan net. But Scott McTominay‘s shot from the right box went into the outside part of the net. That was followed by Lyndon Dykes heading a shot toward the net off a corner kick, but the attempt went wide.
Morocco improves to 1-1-0 in Group C play, while Scotland drops to 1-0-1.
