Canada and Morocco open World Cup round of 16 as hosts chase historic quarterfinal berth
Co-host Canada plays its first ever World Cup round of 16 match against a Morocco side aiming to repeat its 2022 semifinal run. The knockout clash starts at 19:00 local time at Houston's NRG Stadium.
Hosts break new ground
Canada, co-hosting the 2026 World Cup alongside the United States and Mexico, has reached the round of 16 for the first time in its history. The team, coached by Jesse Marsch, finished second in Group B behind Switzerland after a 1-1 draw with Bosnia and Herzegovina, a 6-0 rout of Qatar, and a 2-1 loss to the Swiss. In the round of 32, a stoppage-time goal from Stephen Eustáquio secured a 1-0 victory over South Africa, keeping the host nation's dream alive. Star winger Alphonso Davies is expected to lead the attack. Canada played that first knockout match outside its own territory, a historical oddity for a host nation.
Morocco's golden generation
Morocco, semifinalists in Qatar 2022, are looking to prove that performance was no fluke. Under coach Mohamed Ouahbi, the Atlas Lions finished second in Group C, level on points with Brazil, after drawing 1-1 with the Seleção, beating Scotland 1-0, and defeating Haiti 4-2. In the round of 32, they eliminated the Netherlands on penalties after a 1-1 draw. Goalkeeper Bono was the hero in the shootout, and midfielder Ismael Saibari, who has three goals in the tournament, converted the decisive spot-kick. Other key players include Achraf Hakimi, Brahim Díaz, and the emerging Ayyoub Bouaddi.
Match details
The match kicks off at 19:00 local time (Spanish peninsular time) on Saturday, July 4, at Houston Stadium, the former NRG Stadium, a covered venue with a capacity of 68,777. In Spain, the game is available on DAZN, DAZN Mundial, and Movistar Plus+. The winner will advance to the quarterfinals to face either Paraguay or France, who play later on Saturday.
Road to the last 16
Canada's group stage featured a mixed bag: a draw with Bosnia, a demolition of Qatar, and a narrow loss to Switzerland. The round of 32 against South Africa was a tense affair decided by Eustáquio's late strike. Morocco's path was steadier, with a draw against Brazil, a tight win over Scotland, and a convincing victory over Haiti. The penalty shootout against the Netherlands, in which Saibari scored the winning kick, underlined the team's composure under pressure.
What's at stake
For Canada, a victory would mark the country's first ever appearance in a World Cup quarterfinal. For Morocco, it would be a step toward matching or surpassing their historic 2022 run. Both teams have shown resilience in the knockout stage, with late goals and penalty drama defining their paths to this point.
