Azzedine Ounahi struck his first World Cup objectives and substitute Soufiane Rahimi added a late third to ship Morocco to the 2026 quarter-finals and finish Canada’s history-making run because the co-hosts went out in Houston.
Les Rouges dominated the primary half and have been unlucky to not go forward when Bono, who had earlier saved out Jonathan David’s shot from a good angle, thwarted Tani Oluwaseyi in a one-on-one.
Morocco misplaced three-goal high scorer Ismael Saibari to harm earlier than the break however went forward 5 minutes after half-time when Girona midfielder Ounahi arrived unmarked to fulfill Achraf Hakimi’s free-kick simply outdoors the field and sweep a exact low end past goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau’s dive.
Bono pushed Tajon Buchanan’s long-range drive away earlier than Brahim Diaz accomplished a surging run with a intelligent flip and move to tee up Ounahi, who fired in with eight minutes remaining from contained in the penalty space.
Diaz provided Rahimi, who had headed towards the crossbar shortly beforehand, to fit in eight minutes into added time as Morocco superior in type to a gathering with France or Paraguay, who face one another in Philadelphia on Saturday (22:00 BST).
Morocco vs Canada: Atlas Lions progress at World Cup
The primary African aspect to succeed in the semi-finals with their thrilling run in 2022, Morocco’s draw with Brazil on their solution to taking seven factors within the group stage and last-32 win over the Netherlands made their underwhelming first-half show a shock.
Jesse Marsch’s staff will go down within the report books for his or her nation’s third look on the finals, securing the nation’s first-ever win at a World Cup event with a 6-0 thrashing of Qatar on matchday two earlier than knocking out South Africa within the final 32.
Marsch had described Morocco as a near-flawless staff within the build-up and the reigning African champions’ superior high quality and expertise informed throughout the second half, bringing their opponents’ memorable marketing campaign to a creditable finish.
World Cup 2026: Canada ‘onerous luck’ vs Morocco
Former Leeds United ahead Lucy Ward stated the competition “actually hadn’t been a 3-0 sport”. “However when it counts – once you’re in entrance of aim – Morocco simply had that high quality that Canada [didn’t],” Ward informed ITV.
“It’s such onerous luck for Canada – they’d given every part. They’ve achieved brilliantly, they’ve come to this point on this World Cup and underneath Jesse Marsch.
“However that is the place it ends. Canada have been pushing ahead and leaving plenty of area. [The goals were] three nice finishes.
“[Canada] gave every part however it was not fairly sufficient. Morocco discovered slightly bit extra high quality throughout the second half. Canada couldn’t have given any extra.”
World Cup 2026: Canada staff vs Morocco
Marsch made three modifications to his beginning aspect from the win over South Africa, bringing in Niko Sigur, Lucas De Fougerolles and Ali Ahmed.
Derek Cornelius, Nathan Saliba and Liam Millar moved to the bench, with Alphonso Davies not but match to be concerned because the captain continued his restoration from a hamstring harm.
Canada beginning XI: Maxime Crepeau, Alistair Johnston, Luc De Fougerolles, Moise Bombito, Richie Laryea, Tajon Buchanan, Niko Sigur, Stephen Eustaquio, Ali Ahmed, Jonathan David, Tani Oluwaseyi
Canada Substitutes: Dayne St. Clair, Alfie Jones, Joel Waterman, Mathieu Choiniere, Cyle Larin, Liam Millar, Derek Cornelius, Jacob Shaffelburg, Owen Goodman, Alphonso Davies, Jonathan Osorio, Promise David, Nathan Saliba, Jayden Nelson
World Cup 2026: Morocco staff vs Canada
Morocco boss Mohamed Ouahbi made a change in defence, introducing Redouane Halhal for Chadi Riad, who had a knee harm.
Morocco beginning XI: Yassine Bounou, Achraf Hakimi, Issa Diop, Redouane Halhal, Noussair Mazraoui, Brahim Diaz, Ayyoub Bouaddi, Azzedine Ounahi, Neil El Aynaoui, Bilal El Khannouss, Ismael Saibari
Morocco substitutes: Ahmed Reda Tagnaouti, Sofyan Amrabat, Marwane Saadane, Chemsdine Talbi, Soufiane Rahimi, Munir El Kajoui, Zakaria El Ouahdi, Samir El Mourabet, Gessime Yassine, Amine Sbai, Chadi Riad, Youssef Belammari, Ayoub El Kaabi, Ayoube Amaimouni-Echghouyab, Anass Salah-Eddine
Morocco World Cup fixtures
Right here’s when Morocco can be in quarter-final motion, in addition to tips on how to watch within the UK.
| Date | Venue | BST begin time | ET | PT |
| Thurs, July 9 | Boston | 21:00 | 16:00 | 13:00 |
World Cup 2026: Canada vs Morocco stats
- Canada have been showing within the World Cup knockout rounds for the primary time of their historical past and had scored of their earlier six matches throughout all competitions
- Jesse Marsch’s aspect recorded 100 final-third pressures within the first half towards South Africa, which was the very best determine in a World Cup match since detailed knowledge assortment started in 2010
- Marsch was aiming to turn into the primary American supervisor to progress from multiple knockout tie on the World Cup, in addition to the primary to win three video games within the competitors
- This was Canada’s sixth assembly with Morocco in all competitions, going winless throughout every of the earlier 4 (D1 L3)
- They’ve solely confronted Scotland (6) and Iceland (5) extra instances of their historical past with out ever profitable
- Excluding finals and play-off matches for third place, Morocco have progressed from seven of their final 9 knockout ties at main tournaments (World Cup and Africa Cup of Nations)
- Morocco are unbeaten of their final 10 matches in all competitions
- They accomplished 801 passes towards the Netherlands within the earlier spherical, turning into solely the second staff after Spain to exceed 800 passes in a World Cup match since trendy knowledge monitoring started
- The Atlas Lions have by no means misplaced to Canada in senior males’s worldwide soccer and gained the fixture 2-1 on the 2022 World Cup
- That win was their first-ever assembly with a CONCACAF nation on the World Cup, continuing to beat Haiti 4-2 throughout this 12 months’s group stage
