Morocco made history by becoming the first African nation to reach the World Cup quarterfinals twice, securing a dominant 3-0 victory over co-host Canada in the round of 16. This decisive win, held on 4/7 in Houston, US, marked a significant milestone for the Moroccan team.

The match saw Morocco break the deadlock in the 50th minute. Following a free-kick near the right byline, most players anticipated a cross into the box. Instead, Achraf Hakimi delivered the ball to the edge of the penalty area, where Azzedine Onuahi struck a low right-footed shot into the near post, completing a perfectly orchestrated play. Onuahi had narrowly avoided a second yellow card just minutes earlier for a foul on Ali Ahmed.

Canada, forced to push forward in search of an equalizer, found their aggression gradually stifled by a confident and experienced Moroccan side. The decisive blow came in the 82nd minute with a swift counter-attack. Brahim Diaz received the ball in the penalty area, then skillfully turned and passed it to Onuahi, who netted his second goal, beating Maxime Crepeau once more.

"I think the game is over", former England striker Chris Sutton told BBC. "It's a cruel end for Canada, but Morocco found a way to figure them out". The third goal, scored by Soufiane Rahimi in the 8th minute of added time, was a fitting conclusion to Morocco's performance, further solidifying their victory. Brahim Diaz's fourth assist in the tournament made him the first African player to achieve this milestone at a World Cup.

Moroccan players celebrate after their 3-0 victory over Canada in the World Cup 2026 round of 16 at Houston, US on 4/7. *Photo: AP*

Canada's biggest regret was losing the top spot in their group to Switzerland, despite an even performance, which cost them home-field advantage in the knockout stage. Head coach Jesse Marsch's team was forced to travel to the US. While South Africa presented a manageable challenge in the round of 32, Morocco, who drew with Brazil in the group stage and defeated Netherlands in the round of 32, proved to be a much tougher opponent for Canada.

Morocco's rise has been remarkable, climbing from 120th in the FIFA rankings in 2017 to 30th before the World Cup 2026 began. Reaching the round of 16 brought a sense of achievement for Canada, following two previous participations where they exited in the group stage. However, the skill gap with Morocco – the only African team in the top 10 – became evident on the Houston pitch, despite Canada's optimistic first half.

The co-host team played with an unusual calmness, contrasting with the urgency typically emphasized by coach Marsch. In the first 10 minutes, Jonathan David unleashed a shot from a tight angle, followed by a golden opportunity for Tani Oluwaseyi inside the box, but both were denied by goalkeeper Yassine Bounou. Midway through the half, Canada suffered a setback when key attacker Ismael Saibari left the field due to injury.

After Saibari's departure, Canada stabilized their defensive and counter-attacking rhythm. The intensity of both teams led to a disjointed game, with referee Michael Oliver showing firmness. Six yellow cards were issued, four of which went to Morocco. The Moroccans appeared more frustrated, which was a success for Canada in terms of disrupting their flow.

The absence of Saibari blunted Morocco's attacks in the first half. However, halftime provided an opportunity for them to regroup and revitalize. They returned with the traditional character they demonstrated in the previous tournament: resilience, persistence, and the creativity of key players channeled into quick, incisive attacks.

Morocco now faces the winner of the match between France and Paraguay. Meanwhile, Canada became the only co-host of this tournament to be eliminated. Hakimi and his teammates have shown consistency over the past five years, despite some fluctuations. They parted ways with their most successful coach, Walid Rerragui, in February, following the disappointment of losing the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) final to Senegal. Mohamed Ouahbi, who led Morocco to victory in the U20 World Cup 2025, was appointed as his replacement, bringing a more attractive attacking style than his predecessor. Any opponent facing Morocco now must be cautious, even France, with their dream attack in this tournament. Four years ago, the two teams met in the semifinals, with the European representatives winning 2-0.