Qatar's Assim Madibo has been handed a five-match ban from the 2026 FIFA World Cup following a tackle that resulted in a broken leg for Canada's Ismaël Koné. The disciplinary committee of FIFA determined the suspension after Madibo was shown a red card during the group stage match.
While the decision is subject to appeal, the ban will carry over into future international competitions beyond the World Cup. Madibo received the red card during Qatar's match against Canada, which they ultimately lost 6-0. He was unavailable for Qatar's subsequent 3-1 loss to Bosnia and Herzegovina, a result that ended their tournament run in the group stages.
Qatar's coach, Julen Lopetegui, stated after the match that the tackle was not intentional and that Madibo was visibly affected by the severity of Koné's injury. Canadian coach Jesse Marsch reported that Madibo visited the Canadian locker room to apologize to Koné.
Koné underwent successful surgery for a broken tibia and fibula in his left leg. Following the incident, Canadian players rushed to Koné's aid while Madibo held his head in his hands. Images from the match showed Madibo and Koné embracing after the game, indicating no lingering animosity despite the serious injury.
Canada advanced to the round of 32 after finishing second in Group B, following a 2-1 loss to Switzerland. The team is scheduled to play the runner-up of Group A in Los Angeles.