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FIFA World Cup 2026: Moroccan block to gallant Canadian run
Morocco defeated co-host Canada 3-0 in the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16, ending Canada's historic campaign with Ounahi's decisive brace.
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Prabhjot Paul Singh - Sat, 04, Jul 2026
- 16:41 EDT
- 31
Canada team / X/ CANMNT_Official
Morocco brought to nought the gallant Canadian run in the FIFA World Cup 2026 with a mesmerising 3-0 win in the round of 16. Canada thus becomes the first co-host to bow out of the biggest FIFA event, after creating several ripples.
Morocco completed the tally with a last-minute goal by Sofiane Rahim (90+8th minute). The real hero was Azzedine Ounahi (50th and 82nd minute), whose brace snatched the game out of a spirited and hard-working Canadian team.
Though Canadian dominated the first half and a section of the second half but its inability to score from tantalising openings it created proved to be its undoing.
Morocco has become the first team to qualify for the quarterfinals and await winners of the France-Paraguay match.
Canada’s wild ride at the 2026 FIFA World Cup came to an end after the team put up its one of the best performances in the tournament against more fancied and high ranking opponents. Conclusion of its run came with a valiant but ultimately unsuccessful effort in the round of 16.
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The margin of defeat may not be a true indication of the closeness of the game as Canadians fell 3-0 to Morocco on Saturday in Houston. Canada came into the match ranked no. 30 in the world; Morocco entered the day at no. 6.
Morocco moves on to the quarterfinals against either France or Paraguay, while Canada is eliminated. Still, this represents a best-ever performance for a team that had not won a game at a senior men’s World Cup prior to this year.
Morocco, after struggling to keep the spirited Canadians in check, started the second half aggressively. Just five minutes in, Azzedine Ounahi received a free kick at the top of the penalty area and forcefully slid the ball past Maxime Crépeau.
Coach Jesse Marsch started his experimentation in search of an equalizer. Cyle Larin entered the game in place of Oluwaseyi in the 63rd minute. Canada earned a free kick in the 78th minute, but it was lofted over the crossbar by Jonathan David.
The inability to convert momentum into goals ultimately proved costly for Canadians. Morocco notched a second goal on the counterattack in the 82nd minute, off the foot of Ounahi once again.
Canada pushed for a goal in the game's final stage, but could not put the pieces together. Jonathan Osorio and Jayden Nelson came as final substitutions; Davies did not enter the match.
Morocco added another counterattack goal in the final minute of stoppage time, putting the result beyond question.
Canadians were crestfallen. They did their best to live up to the expectations of fans both in the Houston Stadium and at home. But luck was perhaps not with them.
En route to the Round of 16, Canada finished second in Group B at the group stage. That phase included a 1-1 draw with Bosnia & Herzegovina in Toronto, a 6-0 win over Qatar and a 2-1 loss to Switzerland in Vancouver. It was followed by a win over South Africa in the round of 32. Morocco defeated the Netherlands in a penalty shootout in the round of 32 to set up today’s round of 16 match against Canada.
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