HOUSTON, TEXAS - JULY 04: Azzedine Ounahi #8 of Morocco celebrates scoring his team's second goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 match between Canada and Morocco at Houston Stadium on July 04, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Lars Baron/Getty Images)
Canada 0-3 Morocco
HOUSTON, TX–Canada’s 2026 World Cup came to an end on Saturday at the hands of Morocco, 3-0. ending what was Canada’s best performance at a World Cup. Morocco becomes the first African side to reach the quarterfinals at multiple World Cups having done so four years earlier.
Yet, it was Canada who took the game to the Atlas Lions in the first half. The closest Canada got to scoring was through Jonathan David and Tani Oluwaseyi, both of whom were denied one on one by Morocco keeper Bono inside the opening 11 minutes.
Morocco made up for their subpar first half by scoring five minutes into the second half on a free kick. Achraf Hakimilaid a free kick back to Azzedine Ounahi on the edge of the area, and the midfielder curled the ball into the bottom corner. Canada then pressed for an equalizer, but twice late left themselves exposed to counter attacks.
Ounahi added a second in the 82nd minute and Soufiane Rahimi added a third in stoppage time. Morocco will go on to face France in the quarterfinals on Thursday in Foxborough (3pm, Fox/Telemundo).
Alphonso Davies ended up not playing on Saturday due to his hamstring injury not healing to the point he would be available. He would only play 15 minutes in this World Cup against South Africa.
Canada did get their first World Cup point, win, passage to the knockout stage, and first knockout stage win in this World Cup and the hope is they can use this as a stepping stone towards greater things in the future.
“Something that’s going to resonate most with this team and the country is that we really proved to everyone what a footballing country Canada is,” said defender Alistair Johnston.
Canada played well against Morocco despite the scoreline, but lacked the finishing touch against Morocco. That shouldn’t take away from what was otherwise a fantastic World Cup from a Canadian point of view. They are now 92 places above where they were in the FIFA Rankings back in 2014 (30 from 122). The next goal for Canada is whether they can win Gold Cups (or Copa Americas) and continue to progress as a soccer nation.
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