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Canada assistant yells to ref after Ismael Kone injury: 'His (expletive) leg's hanging off!'
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- Canada assistant yells to ref after Ismael Kone injury: 'His (expletive) leg's hanging off!'
Ismael Kone waves to the crowd as he leaves the field.
Ismael Kone is consoled by Jesse Marsch.
Ismael Kone waves to the crowd as he leaves the field.
Nathan Saliba shows the shirt of Ismael Kone #8 as the celebration after scoring the team's fourth goal.
(Fran Santiago, Getty Images)
Canada's Ismael Kone waves to the crowd as he receives oxygen while being stretchered off.
(Agustin Marcarian, Reuters)
Canada's Ismael Kone waves to the crowd as he is stretchered off after sustaining an injury.
(Agustin Marcarian, REUTERS)
Ismael Kone receives medical attention after suffering an injury.
Ismael Kone being stretchered off.
Canada players react after Ismael Kone's injury.
Ismael Kone waves to the crowd as he leaves the field.
Ismael Kone being stretchered off.
Canada's Ismael Kone waves to the crowd as he receives oxygen while being stretchered off.
(Agustin Marcarian, REUTERS)
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Ismael Kone waves to crowd after Canada injury at World Cup | Photos
Ismael Kone waves to the crowd as he leaves the field.
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Ismael Kone waves to crowd after Canada injury at World Cup | Photos
Ismael Kone waves to the crowd as he leaves the field.
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Ismael Kone waves to crowd after Canada injury at World Cup | Photos
Ismael Kone is consoled by Jesse Marsch.
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Ismael Kone waves to crowd after Canada injury at World Cup | Photos
Ismael Kone waves to the crowd as he leaves the field.
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Ismael Kone waves to crowd after Canada injury at World Cup | Photos
Nathan Saliba shows the shirt of Ismael Kone #8 as the celebration after scoring the team's fourth goal.
(Fran Santiago, Getty Images)
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Ismael Kone waves to crowd after Canada injury at World Cup | Photos
Canada's Ismael Kone waves to the crowd as he receives oxygen while being stretchered off.
(Agustin Marcarian, Reuters)
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Ismael Kone waves to crowd after Canada injury at World Cup | Photos
Canada's Ismael Kone waves to the crowd as he is stretchered off after sustaining an injury.
(Agustin Marcarian, REUTERS)
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Ismael Kone waves to crowd after Canada injury at World Cup | Photos
Ismael Kone receives medical attention after suffering an injury.
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Ismael Kone waves to crowd after Canada injury at World Cup | Photos
Ismael Kone being stretchered off.
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Ismael Kone waves to crowd after Canada injury at World Cup | Photos
Canada players react after Ismael Kone's injury.
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Ismael Kone waves to crowd after Canada injury at World Cup | Photos
Ismael Kone waves to the crowd as he leaves the field.
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Ismael Kone waves to crowd after Canada injury at World Cup | Photos
Ismael Kone being stretchered off.
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Ismael Kone waves to crowd after Canada injury at World Cup | Photos
Canada's Ismael Kone waves to the crowd as he receives oxygen while being stretchered off.
(Agustin Marcarian, REUTERS)
After Canada 's Ismael Kone went down with a serious injury to his leg, the referee raised a yellow card for the Qatar player who made contact from behind.
Canada assistant coach Paul Stalteri was then heard on the broadcast yelling to the ref, "His (expletive) leg's hanging off. His leg's hanging off. It's a broken (expletive) leg, man."
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After a review, the yellow card was upgraded to red for serious foul play and Qatar's Assim Madibo was ejected from the game in the 53rd minute. His exit put Qatar down to nine men, having earned a red card earlier in the match as well, losing Homam Ahmed in the 33rd minute.
Canada went on to secure a 6-0 victory, the country's first-ever World Cup win.
Injuries have reshaped the World Cup landscape, forcing lineup changes and opening opportunities across competing squads.
See the moments that highlight setbacks and the physical toll of the tournament on players.
Above, FIFA World Cup 2026 - Group G - Iran v New Zealand - Los Angeles Stadium, Inglewood, California, U.S. - June 15, 2026 Iran's Shahriyar Moghanlou and New Zealand's Finn Surman down injured after colliding
FIFA World Cup 2026 - Group H - Spain v Cape Verde - Atlanta Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. - June 15, 2026 Referee Adham Makhadmeh calls for medical attention for Cape Verde's Vozinha after he sustained an injury
(Bernadett Szabo, REUTERS)
FIFA World Cup 2026 - Group F - Sweden v Tunisia - Estadio Monterrey, Monterrey, Mexico - June 14, 2026 Sweden's Gabriel Gudmundsson reacts after sustaining an injury as referee Yael Falcon interacts with him
(Daniel Becerril, REUTERS)
FIFA World Cup 2026 - Group C - Haiti v Scotland - Boston Stadium, Foxborough, Massachusetts, U.S. - June 13, 2026 Haiti's Frantzdy Pierrot reacts after sustaining an injury
(Brian Snyder, REUTERS)
FIFA World Cup 2026 - Group C - Brazil v Morocco - New York/New Jersey Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey, U.S. - June 13, 2026 Morocco's Yassine Bounou receives medical attention after sustaining an injury
(Dylan Martinez, REUTERS)
FIFA World Cup 2026 - Group B - Qatar v Switzerland - San Francisco Bay Area Stadium, Santa Clara, California, U.S. - June 13, 2026 Qatar's Pedro Miguel reacts after sustaining an injury
(Eloisa Lopez, REUTERS)
FIFA World Cup 2026 - Group C - Brazil v Morocco - New York/New Jersey Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey, U.S. - June 13, 2026 Morocco's Yassine Bounou is down injured as referee Slavko Vincic reacts
FIFA World Cup 2026 - Group D - United States v Paraguay - Los Angeles Stadium, Inglewood, California, U.S. - June 12, 2026 Folarin Balogun of the U.S. reacts as he lies on the pitch after sustaining an injury
(DANIEL COLE, REUTERS)
Yassine Bounou #1 of Morocco lies injured during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group C match between Brazil and Morocco at New York New Jersey Stadium on June 13, 2026, in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
(Dan Mullan, Getty Images)
FIFA World Cup 2026 - Group B - Canada v Bosnia and Herzegovina - Toronto Stadium, Toronto, Canada - June 12, 2026 Bosnia and Herzegovina's Nikola Vasilj reacts after sustaining an injury.
FIFA World Cup 2026 - Group B - Canada v Bosnia and Herzegovina - Toronto Stadium, Toronto, Canada - June 12, 2026 Canada's Tani Oluwaseyi reacts as he lies on the pitch after sustaining an injury
(Claudia Greco, REUTERS)
FIFA World Cup 2026 - Group D - United States v Paraguay - Los Angeles Stadium, Inglewood, California, U.S. - June 12, 2026 Chris Richards of the U.S. down injured
(Mario Anzuoni, REUTERS)
FIFA World Cup 2026 - Group A - Mexico v South Africa - Estadio Azteca, Mexico City, Mexico - June 11, 2026 Mexico's Erik Lira reacts after sustaining an injury
(Hannah McKay, REUTERS)
FIFA World Cup 2026 - Group A - Mexico v South Africa - Estadio Azteca, Mexico City, Mexico - June 11, 2026 Mexico's Israel Reyes sits on the pitch and Roberto Alvarado lies down as teammates check on them after sustaining an injury
(Kai Pfaffenbach, REUTERS)
1
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See the moment it all went wrong for these injured World Cup players
Injuries have reshaped the World Cup landscape, forcing lineup changes and opening opportunities across competing squads.
See the moments that highlight setbacks and the physical toll of the tournament on players.
Above, FIFA World Cup 2026 - Group G - Iran v New Zealand - Los Angeles Stadium, Inglewood, California, U.S. - June 15, 2026 Iran's Shahriyar Moghanlou and New Zealand's Finn Surman down injured after colliding
1
/14
See the moment it all went wrong for these injured World Cup players
Injuries have reshaped the World Cup landscape, forcing lineup changes and opening opportunities across competing squads.
See the moments that highlight setbacks and the physical toll of the tournament on players.
Above, FIFA World Cup 2026 - Group G - Iran v New Zealand - Los Angeles Stadium, Inglewood, California, U.S. - June 15, 2026 Iran's Shahriyar Moghanlou and New Zealand's Finn Surman down injured after colliding
2
/14
See the moment it all went wrong for these injured World Cup players
FIFA World Cup 2026 - Group H - Spain v Cape Verde - Atlanta Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. - June 15, 2026 Referee Adham Makhadmeh calls for medical attention for Cape Verde's Vozinha after he sustained an injury
(Bernadett Szabo, REUTERS)
3
/14
See the moment it all went wrong for these injured World Cup players
FIFA World Cup 2026 - Group F - Sweden v Tunisia - Estadio Monterrey, Monterrey, Mexico - June 14, 2026 Sweden's Gabriel Gudmundsson reacts after sustaining an injury as referee Yael Falcon interacts with him
(Daniel Becerril, REUTERS)
4
/14
See the moment it all went wrong for these injured World Cup players
FIFA World Cup 2026 - Group C - Haiti v Scotland - Boston Stadium, Foxborough, Massachusetts, U.S. - June 13, 2026 Haiti's Frantzdy Pierrot reacts after sustaining an injury
(Brian Snyder, REUTERS)
5
/14
See the moment it all went wrong for these injured World Cup players
FIFA World Cup 2026 - Group C - Brazil v Morocco - New York/New Jersey Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey, U.S. - June 13, 2026 Morocco's Yassine Bounou receives medical attention after sustaining an injury
(Dylan Martinez, REUTERS)
6
/14
See the moment it all went wrong for these injured World Cup players
FIFA World Cup 2026 - Group B - Qatar v Switzerland - San Francisco Bay Area Stadium, Santa Clara, California, U.S. - June 13, 2026 Qatar's Pedro Miguel reacts after sustaining an injury
(Eloisa Lopez, REUTERS)
7
/14
See the moment it all went wrong for these injured World Cup players
FIFA World Cup 2026 - Group C - Brazil v Morocco - New York/New Jersey Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey, U.S. - June 13, 2026 Morocco's Yassine Bounou is down injured as referee Slavko Vincic reacts
8
/14
See the moment it all went wrong for these injured World Cup players
FIFA World Cup 2026 - Group D - United States v Paraguay - Los Angeles Stadium, Inglewood, California, U.S. - June 12, 2026 Folarin Balogun of the U.S. reacts as he lies on the pitch after sustaining an injury
(DANIEL COLE, REUTERS)
9
/14
See the moment it all went wrong for these injured World Cup players
Yassine Bounou #1 of Morocco lies injured during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group C match between Brazil and Morocco at New York New Jersey Stadium on June 13, 2026, in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
(Dan Mullan, Getty Images)
10
/14
See the moment it all went wrong for these injured World Cup players
FIFA World Cup 2026 - Group B - Canada v Bosnia and Herzegovina - Toronto Stadium, Toronto, Canada - June 12, 2026 Bosnia and Herzegovina's Nikola Vasilj reacts after sustaining an injury.
11
/14
See the moment it all went wrong for these injured World Cup players
FIFA World Cup 2026 - Group B - Canada v Bosnia and Herzegovina - Toronto Stadium, Toronto, Canada - June 12, 2026 Canada's Tani Oluwaseyi reacts as he lies on the pitch after sustaining an injury
(Claudia Greco, REUTERS)
12
/14
See the moment it all went wrong for these injured World Cup players
FIFA World Cup 2026 - Group D - United States v Paraguay - Los Angeles Stadium, Inglewood, California, U.S. - June 12, 2026 Chris Richards of the U.S. down injured
(Mario Anzuoni, REUTERS)
13
/14
See the moment it all went wrong for these injured World Cup players
FIFA World Cup 2026 - Group A - Mexico v South Africa - Estadio Azteca, Mexico City, Mexico - June 11, 2026 Mexico's Erik Lira reacts after sustaining an injury
(Hannah McKay, REUTERS)
14
/14
See the moment it all went wrong for these injured World Cup players
FIFA World Cup 2026 - Group A - Mexico v South Africa - Estadio Azteca, Mexico City, Mexico - June 11, 2026 Mexico's Israel Reyes sits on the pitch and Roberto Alvarado lies down as teammates check on them after sustaining an injury
(Kai Pfaffenbach, REUTERS)
What happened to Ismael Kone ? Surgery needed
Kone was dribbling the ball when Madibo attempted to steal it and swiped Kone's leg from behind. Kone went down immediately holding his left leg near the ankle. Madibo put his hands over his head and waved his hands in the air, offering an apology for the severity of his tackle from behind.
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After trainers put an air cast on his left leg, Kone was wheeled off the field on a stretcher. He waved to fans in Vancouver who were chanting his name.
After the game, Canada coach Jesse Marsch said he "could hear the bone snap" and Kone was at the hospital undergoing surgery.
What to know about Ismael Kone
Kone is a dynamic midfielder who was born in the Ivory Coast but moved to Montreal when he was seven. He came through the CF Montreal academy system and debuted with the MLS club in 2021. He quickly drew the attention of European clubs, moving to Watford in 2022. This was his second World Cup after Kone made his World Cup debut in 2022, just months after making his senior international debut in March of that year.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Canada coach to ref after Ismael Kone injury: 'His leg's hanging off'
