Jesse Marsch in tears after hearing Canada star's leg snap in World Cup win

Canada head coach Jesse Marsch broke down in tears after hearing midfielder Ismael Kone's leg snap during the team's 6-0 World Cup victory over Qatar on Tuesday. Kone suffered a broken leg early in the second half following a challenge, forcing him to be stretchered off with his leg in protective gear.

Marsch, who took charge of Canada in May 2024, described the incident in his post-match press conference, revealing that the sound of the break was audible from the bench. “It happened right in front of the bench, we could all hear it. I knew right away,” he said, comparing it to a similar injury suffered by Tajon Buchanan in training.

The injury led to a brief scuffle between players from both sides as emotions ran high. Kone, 24, was later seen giving a thumbs-up to the crowd while being carried off. Marsch noted that Kone’s composure under the circumstances was “an incredible statement about Ismael as a person.”

Historic victory overshadowed

The match itself marked a historic milestone for Canada: their first-ever World Cup victory in their third tournament appearance. Jonathan David scored a hat-trick, with Cyle Larin and Nathan Saliba also on the scoresheet. Saliba held up Kone’s shirt during his celebration, a gesture that resonated deeply with the squad.

• Canada defeated Qatar 6-0 in their World Cup group stage match.
• Ismael Kone suffered a broken leg early in the second half.
• The injury was audible from the Canada bench, Marsch confirmed.
• Kone required surgery and was taken to hospital where his family joined him.
• Jonathan David scored a hat-trick in the historic victory.

Marsch emphasized the team’s resilience: “Everybody was crushed when it happened, but we had to stay focused. We knew Ismael wanted us to finish the job.” Canada will now look ahead to their next World Cup fixture, though the loss of Kone—described by Marsch as “a big part of the heart of our team”—will pose a significant challenge.