Houston, 4 July 2026 – At the NRG Stadium, Morocco eliminated host nation Canada from the tournament with a commanding 3-0 victory. The round of 16 tie at the 2026 FIFA World Cup – already the second knockout round this year, after the newly expanded 48-team tournament introduced a round of 32 for the first time – left no doubt over the winner. The Atlas Lions have now reached the last eight for the second successive time.
Goalless first half, febrile atmosphere
The opening period produced plenty of emotion but no goals. On the Canadian side, Richie Laryea was shown a yellow card in the 40th minute, with Jonathan David following three minutes later. Morocco also picked up a booking, Achraf Hakimi cautioned in the 40th minute, and were dealt an early blow in the 22nd minute when Ismael Saibari was forced off with a thigh injury. Head coach Mohamed Ouahbi introduced Soufiane Rahimi as his replacement – a decision that would prove decisive.
Ounahi settles the contest
The decisive moment arrived shortly after the restart. In the 50th minute, Azzedine Ounahi converted a perfectly rehearsed free kick: Hakimi rolled the ball square from the set piece, and Ounahi drove an unstoppable right-footed finish into the bottom-left corner from the edge of the area – 1-0. The Girona FC midfielder had grown into one of Morocco's most dependable figures since his breakout at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar; in all seven previous matches in which he scored, Morocco won. That pattern held.
Canada struggled to find an answer. Substitute introductions from Jesse Marsch – Cyle Larin (63rd minute) and later Jacob Shaffelburg (78th) – failed to inject any urgency. In the 82nd minute, Ounahi struck again: Brahim Díaz drove forward, laid the ball off, and Ounahi unleashed a powerful effort from distance into the top corner – 2-0. The 24-year-old had now scored both goals and was the undisputed key man of the match.
Rahimi adds the gloss – Díaz sets African record
In stoppage time, Soufiane Rahimi put the result beyond all doubt. Díaz cut into the Canadian penalty area, rolled a low cross across the box, and Rahimi tapped home for 3-0 (90+8'). The assist gave Díaz a record four World Cup assists by an African player, according to ESPN. Rahimi himself – named the world's best international goalscorer by the IFFHS in 2024 – once again demonstrated his quality as an impact substitute, finding the net just 76 minutes after coming on.
For Canada, the tournament ends at the round of 16. Jesse Marsch's side had made good use of the expanded 48-nation format – twelve groups of four teams, with 32 sides advancing – to win a World Cup knockout match for the very first time. Against Morocco, however, the gap in quality and experience proved too great. Morocco become the first side in the tournament to secure their quarter-final place, and now await their next opponent.
