Red cards and poor defense send Qatar to its worst World Cup loss, a 6-0 embarrassment vs. Canada

VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) — Qatar’s World Cup defeat to Canada on Thursday went so awry that goalkeeper Mahmoud Abunada appeared to break down in tears after the final whistle, receiving comfort from a teammate and Canada’s Jacob Schaffelburg.

“It was a tough match, because everything that could go wrong, did go wrong,” coach Julen Lopetegui said. “That’s how football is sometimes.”

Qatar played two men down for most of the second half after a pair of red cards and went on to lose 6-0, the worst defeat in the Persian Gulf country's short World Cup history. Qatar debuted in the tournament as the host in 2022 and lost 2-0 to Ecuador, 3-1 to Senegal and 2-0 to the Netherlands.

The second red card was issued to midfielder Assim Madibo, who tackled Canada's Ismaël Koné from behind, breaking Koné's lower left leg. Koné was stretchered off the field and taken to a hospital for surgery.

Koné’s replacement, Nathan Saliba, buried a 20-yard free kick in the 64th minute for Canada’s fourth goal.

Controlling rebounds was a struggle for the Qatari defenders, who could not clear the ball after two of Abunada’s saves. Canada had 10 shots on goal while Qatar had none.

Standout left back Homam Ahmed was the first player sent off. His yellow card was upgraded to a red in the 33rd minute.

“It was a very tough match for many reasons,” Lopetegui said. “The players did their best. It was very difficult to face this match with two players less with this environment.”

After Canada's postgame huddle, Lopetegui and Canada coach Jesse Marsch had a heated exchange.

Marsch said Madibo apologized to Koné after the game, but he took issue with the way Qatar players reacted after the injury.

“I don’t understand a reaction from their entire bench to try to start a fight about it being a red card when a clear foul just happened that broke a player’s leg,” Marsch said. “So, strange behavior.”

Qatar is last in Group B but still has a chance to reach the knockout round. It faces Bosnia-Herzegovina on Wednesday in Seattle.

Ben Kule is a student in the University of Georgia’s Carmical Sports Media Institute.

AP World Cup coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/fifa-world-cup

Qatar's Boualem Khoukhi (16) heads the ball over Canada's Tani Oluwaseyi (12) during the World Cup Group B soccer match between Canada and Qatar in Vancouver, British Columbia, Thursday, June 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Emma Peterson)

Qatar's Lucas Mendes (3) and Canada's Richie Laryea (22) battle for the ball during the World Cup Group B soccer match between Canada and Qatar in Vancouver, British Columbia, Thursday, June 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Emma Peterson)

Qatar's Ayoub Aloui, left, and Canada's Jacob Shaffelburg embrace after Canada's victory in the World Cup Group B soccer match against Qatar in Vancouver, British Columbia, Thursday, June 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Qatar goalkeeper Mahmoud Abunada reacts after the World Cup Group B soccer match between Canada and Qatar in Vancouver, British Columbia, Thursday, June 18, 2026. (Ethan Cairns/The Canadian Press via AP)

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Bobby Witt Jr. hit the first of Kansas City's three home runs before leaving with a sore right knee, and the Royals smacked a club-record five doubles in a six-run second inning Thursday night on the way to a 14-6 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals.

Jac Caglianone and Salvador Perez also went deep for the Royals, who set season highs for runs and hits (17). Each of the first eight batters in the starting lineup had at least one RBI.

Witt homered in the first inning and delivered an RBI single in the second. But he was lifted for a pinch hitter in the fourth after making a sliding stop at shortstop in the top of the inning. The two-time All-Star was shaken up on the play and got checked out on the field by an athletic trainer.

Kansas City took a 7-2 lead in the second on the strength of five doubles — a team record for one inning. Carter Jensen, Isaac Collins, Lane Thomas and Starling Marte each had an RBI double. Perez led off with a two-bagger.

Caglianone hit a two-run shot to left-center in the fourth for his ninth homer this season. Nick Loftin doubled in two more runs.

Perez added his 10th home run in the sixth. It was his 137th at Kauffman Stadium, most in the ballpark’s history.

Royals starter Noah Cameron (4-4) threw 108 pitches in five innings. He gave up four runs, three earned, and eight hits.

Matthew Liberatore (3-4) was charged with seven runs — five earned — and seven hits in 1 2/3 innings.

RHP Seth Lugo (2-4, 3.86 ERA) returns to the Royals’ rotation Friday after spending the required seven days on the concussion injured list. He was hit in the head by a line drive last week. RHP Michael McGreevy (3-5, 2.99) pitches for the Cardinals in the second game of the series.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Kansas City Royals catcher Salvador Perez, left, and pitcher Beck Way (44) celebrate after their baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals, Thursday, June 18, 2026, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Kansas City Royals' Nick Loftin celebrates on second after hitting a two-run double during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals, Thursday, June 18, 2026, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. talks to manager Matt Quatraro, right, and trainer Kyle Turner, left, after getting injured while fielding a single by St. Louis Cardinals' Jordan Walker during the fourth inning of a baseball game Thursday, June 18, 2026, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. talks to manager Matt Quatraro, right, and trainer Kyle Turner, left, after getting injured while fielding a single by St. Louis Cardinals' Jordan Walker during the fourth inning of a baseball game Thursday, June 18, 2026, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Kansas City Royals' Bobby Witt Jr. celebrates in the dugout after scoring on a double by Starling Marte during the second inning of a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals, Thursday, June 18, 2026, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)