Morocco beats Canada 3-0 to reach World Cup quarter-finals – THIS UPDATE

Morocco produced a devastating second-half performance to beat co-hosts Canada 3-0 on Saturday and book a place in the quarter-finals of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with Azzedine Ounahi scoring two goals in a commanding victory at Houston Stadium.

After a hotly contested first half, the Atlas Lions shifted gears after halftime to end Canada’s remarkable tournament run and continue their quest for another deep World Cup campaign following their historic semifinal appearance in 2022.

Canada looked the more threatening team in the first 45 minutes. Richie Laryea won an initial corner after a quick counter-attack, while Jonathan David tested goalkeeper Yassine Bounou with a series of dangerous set pieces provided by Stephen Eustáquio. Tani Oluwaseyi also came close, forcing Bounou into an important save after a defensive error.

Morocco, however, suffered a setback when Ismael Saibari, one of the tournament’s top scorers, limped off with a hamstring injury after just 21 minutes.

Despite the interruption, Walid Regragui’s team returned from the break with renewed determination and broke the deadlock five minutes into the second half. A cleverly crafted sequence of free kicks saw Achraf Hakimi slide the ball into the path of Ounahi, who fired a low shot across a crowded penalty area and past Maxime Crépeau.

Canada pushes forward in search of an equalizer, but leaves itself increasingly exposed in defense. Morocco took advantage in the 82nd minute when Ounahi completed his brace, curling a superb shot past Crépeau after the Canadians had been caught overcommitting in attack.

The victory was sealed in injury time when substitute Soufiane Rahimi completed a quick counterattack in the 98th minute, putting the result beyond doubt and sending the Moroccan fans inside the Houston Stadium into celebration.

While the defeat ends Canada’s memorable World Cup journey, Jesse Marsch’s team leaves the tournament with much to celebrate. The co-hosts scored their first World Cup points during the competition and secured a historic first win in the knockout stage with a dramatic injury-time victory against South Africa in the round of 32.

Morocco, meanwhile, continues to strengthen its status as one of the tournament’s strongest contenders. The Atlas Lions will face winners France and Paraguay in the quarterfinals on July 9 in Boston as they look to surpass their historic run to the semifinals at the 2022 World Cup.

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