It was a moment of celebration for Canadian soccer, and one that will go down in the history books. On Thursday, Canada’s 6-0 victory over Qatar not only represented the first victory for Les Rouge at the 2026 World Cup, but the first World Cup victory in Canada’s history. 

While there was plenty of celebrating on the field, it was tempered in the second half. A reckless challenge from Qatar led to a tournament-ending injury for one of Canada’s best players: midfielder Ismaël Koné. The 24-year-old sustained a broken leg and immediately underwent surgery to repair the damage.

For Canada, the timing could hardly be worse. For sports bettors, it raises a few questions.

Click here for a full match preview, including analysis, style differences, key players and more.

What losing Koné means for Canada

With just one group stage match left against Switzerland on Wednesday, Canada must find a way to replace one of its most dynamic midfielders. Although Canada currently sits first in the group on goal differential heading into the match against the Swiss, securing top spot in Group B just got a lot harder. 

Koné’s value extends far beyond his impact on the scoresheet. The Montreal-native has certainly become one of Canada’s most influential players, with his skilled ball control and ability to transition from defensive coverage to an offensive attack. He is a natural athlete who has shown an impressive chemistry with Canada’s star forward, Jonathan David. 

That ability to utilize his speed in transition will be sorely missed against a Swiss team that has no problem controlling the ball and match tempo. Without Koné, Canada are missing one of their best midfield defenders and threats to counterattack. 

How to Bet on World Cup 2026

  1. Log in or register at ToonieBet.
  2. Navigate to the sports betting page and World Cup hub.
  3. Play futures and player props, build SGPs or bet live

How to live bet World Cup 2026

  1. Log in or register at ToonieBet.
  2. Navigate to the live sports page.
  3. Follow the match trackers, real-time odds and stats, and bet.

How does Koné’s injury impact betting?

The loss of a crucial midfielder often has a more negative impact on a team’s offence. This is especially true in the case of Koné, who’s a spark plug for Canada’s offensive engine. 

Bettors can expect fewer scoring chances for Canada, and might even want to take a look at betting unders for Goals Scored and the Total Goals for the game in the ToonieBet sportsbook.

Here are the current betting odds for Total Goals in the Canada-Switzerland match.

Over 2.5 Goals+115
Under 2.5 Goals-135

The betting market has already shifted towards fewer goals being scored due to Koné’s injury. Bettors should also consider the Both Teams to Score betting market. 

Both Teams to Score: Yes-125
Both Teams to Score: No-105

Bettors are still counting on at least one goal from both teams. Taking both markets into consideration, it appears the ideal game score for bettors would be a 1-1 draw. 

Finally, losing a key player will always impact the odds of a team to winning. In a very meaningful match, the odds of a Canada win are decreasing. 

Switzerland to Win+145
Draw+200
Canada to Win+225

*Odds are subject to change

Who will step in for Koné?

With Koné out of the tournament, one potential player who could emerge as his replacement is Nathan Saliba. 

Saliba was first up off the bench to take Koné’s spot following the injury. Just seven minutes into his first World Cup action, Saliba scored Canada’s fourth goal of the game. It’s hard to make a bigger impact than that. 

While he does not possess the same dynamic skillset of Koné, Saliba is quick and brings solid energy to the pitch. Canada likely won’t utilize Saliba in the same way they use Koné, so expect the youngster to help maintain midfield structure, rather than leading the counterattack down the field. 

A draw with Switzerland will secure first in Group B for Canada, so without that explosiveness from Koné, Jesse Marsch may opt for a more conservative style. But a win will be a statement to the world that Les Rouges will not retreat, and that’s more the manager’s — and the players’ — style.

Photo courtesyAP Photo/Abbie Parr via the Canadian Press
ToonieBet is committed to responsible gaming. Please play safe and reach out if you or someone you know may have a problem.

The content is provided for general informational and entertainment purposes only and does not constitute betting advice, financial advice, or a recommendation to place any wager. Odds are subject to change. Sports wagering involves risk, and there is no guarantee of success or profit. For Ontario residents, participation in regulated online gaming is restricted to individuals 19 years of age or older. Please play responsibly. If gambling is no longer fun or may be causing harm, support is available through recognized gambling resources like ConnexOntario. Terms and conditions apply where applicable.