Morocco eliminates co-host Canada 3-0 to reach World Cup quarterfinals
Morocco defeated co-host Canada 3-0 in the World Cup round of 16 in Houston, with Azzedine Ounahi scoring twice. Bayern Munich's new signing Ismael Saibari was forced off injured after 22 minutes.
Morocco became the first team to reach the 2026 World Cup quarterfinals, beating co-host Canada 3-0 at a sold-out NRG Stadium in Houston. Azzedine Ounahi struck twice after the break and Soufiane Rahimi added a stoppage-time goal, ending Canada's deepest-ever World Cup run. The match was played on US Independence Day, with 68,777 fans in attendance.
Saibari injury blow
Morocco's evening began with a setback when new Bayern Munich signing Ismael Saibari went down clutching his right hamstring in the 22nd minute. The 25-year-old, who had scored three goals in the group stage and recently completed a transfer worth an estimated 55 million euros from PSV Eindhoven, left the pitch in tears. Rahimi replaced him and later scored the third goal. The severity of the injury was not immediately known.
Match turns after break
Canada started brightly, with Tani Oluwaseyi forcing a save from Morocco goalkeeper Yassine Bounou (Bono) in the 10th minute. The first half was stop-start, with English referee Michael Oliver issuing five yellow cards. Morocco struggled to create chances until the second half. In the 50th minute, Achraf Hakimi's free-kick found Ounahi, who fired low into the corner. The second came in the 82nd minute after a misplaced pass by Luc de Fougerolles allowed Brahim Díaz to set up Ounahi again. Díaz also provided the assist for Rahimi's goal deep into added time.
- Kickoff: Canada dominates early, Oluwaseyi misses chance (10')
- 22': Saibari injured, replaced by Rahimi
- Halftime: 0-0, five yellow cards
- 50': Ounahi scores from Hakimi free-kick
- 82': Ounahi scores second after de Fougerolles error
- 90+8': Rahimi scores third from Díaz assist
- Full-time: Morocco 3-0 Canada
Quarterfinal awaits
Morocco will face the winner of the France-Paraguay round of 16 match in Boston on Thursday. The victory makes Morocco the first African nation to reach consecutive World Cup quarterfinals, having finished fourth in Qatar in 2022. Canada, coached by Jesse Marsch, exit the tournament after securing their first-ever World Cup points in the group stage.
Independence Day backdrop
The match fell on the 250th anniversary of US independence, and the pre-game ceremony included a greeting from American astronauts aboard the International Space Station and a rendition of the national anthem by Navy singer Maia Rodriguez. US flags were prominent inside and outside the stadium in Texas, a state with strong patriotic sentiment. Canada's journey to Houston came amid strained relations between the Trump administration and its northern neighbour.
The level we have shown in the first games will not be enough to win this match.
Giant Morocco has no weaknesses.
Ice hockey legend Wayne Gretzky watched from the stands, but his presence could not lift Canada past a Moroccan side that grew stronger as the game wore on.
