Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi, Brahim Diaz and Neil El Aynaoui rejoice after their Fifa World Cup 2026 victory over Canada at Houston Stadium in Houston, Texas, United States, on July 4, 2026. — Reuters
Azzedine Ounahi’s second-half brace helped Morocco overcome a tepid begin for a 3-0 victory over Canada in Houston on Saturday to advance to the quarterfinals for a second straight World Cup.
Morocco, unbeaten in 34 matches, performs June 9 in Boston in opposition to the winner of the France-Paraguay match from later Saturday.
Ounahi gave Morocco the lead within the fiftieth minute and added one other within the 82nd minute on a breakout earlier than Soufiane Rahimi scored in opposition to a urgent Canada within the eighth minute of stoppage time.
Canada’s dream run ended after failing to benefit from early domination. They’d by no means earlier than this 12 months superior out of the group stage, however did so and received their first knockout match, 1-0 in opposition to South Africa within the spherical of 32.
Morocco is No. 6 within the Fifa world rankings; Canada thirtieth.
There have been 4 yellow playing cards apiece and Canada had 24 fouls to 14 for Morocco.
After a listless first half, Morocco shocked Canada with a purpose from nowhere on solely their second shot of the match.
Achraf Hakimi lined up for a free kick to the best of the purpose after a yellow card, the seventh of the match, to Canada’s Luc de Fougerolles for a sloppy foul on Soufiane Rahimi.
Hakimi put the ball on the bottom to Ounahi on the sting of the field and he one-timed a shot to the best nook with the Canadians caught a step behind.
Within the 77th minute, Canada’s Jonathan David despatched a free kick from exterior the field over the bar and a minute later, teammate Tajon Buchanan’s lengthy strike pressured a diving cease on the left submit by Moroccan goalkeeper Yassine Bounou.
That proved essential when Ounahi took a layoff go from Brahim Diaz to make it 2-0.
Morocco suffered a significant blow within the twenty second minute when main scorer Ismael Saibari needed to depart with a attainable hamstring harm. The 25-year-old attacking midfielder scored in all three group matches and on Wednesday it was introduced he was becoming a member of Germany’s Bayern Munich from Dutch aspect PSV Eindhoven.
Canada appeared nothing like a nervous staff of their first spherical of 16 going in opposition to a 2022 World Cup semifinalist.
As is the fashion of American-born coach Jesse Marsch, the Canadians had been on the assault from the beginning. Inside 5 minutes, Bounou made a close-range save on David and adopted quickly after with a punch of a Stephen Eustaquio nook, however he made his finest cease within the twelfth after Canada’s stress resulted in a giveaway.
Tani Oluwaseyi bought the ball on the prime of the field, made a pointy flip then fired a low shot that required Bounou to make the save together with his outstretched left leg.
By the hydration break, Canada had all 4 photographs, two on course, within the match.
