Moroccan international winger Abdelhamid El Zoulouï has been forced to withdraw from the 2026 FIFA World Cup after sustaining a ligament sprain to his right knee during a friendly match against Norway (1–1) in New Jersey on Sunday. The 24-year-old, who plays for Real Betis in Spain's La Liga, was injured in first-half stoppage time and has since expressed his devastation on social media, writing: "Missing a tournament of this magnitude is a very hard blow, but I will never give up." His absence is a significant setback for Morocco's new head coach Mohamed Wahbi, as El Zoulouï had enjoyed an outstanding season with Betis — scoring 10 goals and providing 9 assists in 29 league matches — helping the club finish fifth in La Liga and qualify for next season's UEFA Champions League.