Morocco has eliminated co-hosts Canada from the FIFA World Cup 2026 with a convincing 3-0 victory in Houston. The Atlas Lions advanced to the quarterfinals for the second consecutive tournament, securing their place with a dominant second-half performance. Azzedine Ounahi opened the scoring for Morocco in the 50th minute and added a second goal in the 82nd minute. Soufiane Rahimi sealed the victory with a late strike in stoppage time, completing the 3-0 scoreline.
Canada, despite a strong first half where they created chances and showed good intensity, could not convert their opportunities. Goalkeeper Yassine Bounou, who has Canadian parents, made key saves for Morocco, including denying Tani Oluwaseyi in the first half and Tajon Buchanan late in the game. The absence of Canadian star forward Ismael Saibari, who was injured in the first half, was felt by the team.
This match marked the end of Canada's World Cup campaign, a historic run that saw them reach the knockout stage for the first time. While the defeat is a bitter pill to swallow, the Canadian team's performance throughout the tournament has garnered pride and respect. Morocco now looks ahead to a quarterfinal clash in Boston against the winner of the France-Paraguay match.
