Ismael Kone was forced to exit the pitch on a stretcher during Canada’s game against Qatar after suffering a severe leg injury. Canada is putting on a clinic at Vancouver Stadium, completely dismantling Qatar 5-0 on Matchday 2 of Group B. However, what should be a historic night of celebration for Canadian soccer has been completely overshadowed by a devastating injury to midfielder Ismael Kone.
With Canada comfortably cruising ahead 3-0 in the 51st minute, the midfielder received the ball in the center of the pitch. As Qatari midfielder Assim Madibo flew in with an aggressive challenge to dispossess him, the Canadian star collapsed heavily to the grass with an apparent leg fracture.
The sheer severity of the injury caused immediate distress on the pitch, with several Canadian teammates visibly shaken. While referee Cristian Garay initially issued a yellow card to Madibo, an intervention from the VAR prompted an on-field review. Upon witnessing the replay, the referee immediately upgraded the decision to a straight red card, reducing Qatar to 9 men.
The midfielder was eventually loaded onto a stretcher and taken down the tunnel, though he provided a brief moment of relief to the home crowd by sitting up and waving back to the fans chanting his name.
Ismaël Koné waves to the crowd in Vancouver after being carted off with an apparent leg injury pic.twitter.com/Zq42zMZx7z— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 18, 2026
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