Morocco reached the quarter-finals of the 2026 World Cup for the second time in their history with a commanding 3-0 victory over co-hosts Canada at NRG Stadium in Houston on Saturday, with Azzedine Ounahi’s stunning brace and a late Soufiane Rahimi goal putting the result beyond any doubt.
The Atlas Lions, ranked sixth in the world, had to weather a first half of considerable discomfort against a Canadian side ranked 30th but supremely motivated on home soil. Morocco suffered a major blow as early as the 22nd minute when tournament top scorer Ismael Saibari — the new Bayern Munich signing who had scored in each group-stage match and converted the decisive penalty against the Netherlands — limped off clutching his hamstring, pulling his shirt over his head in visible anguish as Soufiane Rahimi replaced him. “He’s a tremendous athlete and has that finishing ability and physical presence,” former England striker Chris Sutton told BBC Radio 5 Live. “This is a real concern.”
Canada pressed Morocco into oblivion throughout the first half in front of 72,000 fans. The co-hosts racked up 13 touches in the Moroccan box to Morocco’s one at the other end. Jonathan David tested Yassine Bounou, the Canadian-born goalkeeper, early on before Tani Oluwaseyi went one-on-one with Bounou in the 11th minute, only to be denied by a brilliant save diving to his left. Seven yellow cards were issued before the interval — four to Morocco — telling you exactly how frantic and ferocious the opening 45 minutes became. England referee Michael Oliver had his work cut out in a chippy, physical first half that also featured a notable confrontation between Achraf Hakimi and Richie Laryea.
The second half, however, belonged entirely to Morocco. In the 50th minute, Hakimi — largely anonymous in the first period — spotted Ounahi unmarked on the edge of the box from a free-kick position and the Girona midfielder did the rest, stroking the ball through the defensive crowd and into the bottom corner. Four years ago, Ounahi shone as Morocco eliminated Spain on penalties at this same stage of the competition, prompting then-Spain coach Luis Enrique to declare: “My word, where did this boy come from?” He was at it again, and nobody in Houston had an answer.
Ounahi then effectively made victory safe in the closing stages, taking full advantage of Canada’s stretched defence to plant a precise finish past Crépeau in the 82nd minute — the first World Cup brace by a Moroccan since Salaheddine Bassir buried two against Scotland in 1998. Canada pushed desperately for a route back into the contest, throwing men forward and leaving themselves fatally exposed. Brahim Díaz set a new African record with his fourth World Cup assist, releasing Rahimi to cap proceedings in stoppage time with a composed low finish into the bottom-right corner that sealed a famous win.
Morocco manager Mohamed Ouahbi struck a defiant note when pressed on Canada’s strong opening display: “In terms of intensity, they were good. They were good for 98 minutes. Were they better? It’s hard to say, when you lose 3-0. We were better than them in the second half.”
Canada head coach Jesse Marsch, who had made three changes to his starting lineup, was gracious in defeat, acknowledging that his side did not take their chances when it mattered most. Alphonso Davies, Canada’s most celebrated player, was an unused substitute for the second consecutive match — a subplot that lingered long after the final whistle. Morocco ultimately produced an xG of 0.85 compared to Canada’s 0.78, indicating a tighter contest than the scoreline suggested, and remarkably won despite managing only five shots — the fewest by a winning team in the World Cup knockout rounds since such records began in 1966.
The looming concern for Ouahbi, however, is Saibari’s fitness, with medical examinations scheduled to determine whether the 25-year-old can play any further part in the tournament.
Morocco face the winners of France v Paraguay in the quarter-finals.
