Morocco booked their spot in the quarter-finals of the 2026 World Cup thanks to a 3-0 win over co-hosts Canada.
This was perhaps the most evenly-matched ties of the last-16 on paper, and both sides will have fancied their chances of winning. Canada had the better time in the first half but couldn’t make the most of their momentum. Overall, though, the first half was not great with more yellow yellow cards than shots (six to five).
But it took just five minutes of the second half for the game to get its first goal. It came from a set-piece, with Morocco producing a well-worked manoeuvre. Achraf Hakimi took the free-kick bear the corner flag, but passed to the edge of the box where Azzedine Ounahi was unmarked. The midfielder connected with a first-time shot, placing the ball into the bototm right corner.
That goal woke Canada up slightly but they couldn’t really trouble Morocco. With the game getting more stretched, Ounahi put the result beyond down with his second of the match. There was still time for a third from Soufiane Rahimi deep into injury-time. It was just the fifth shot Morocco had, compared to Canada’s 11, but they were clinical with their finishing.
Morocco will now face one of Paraguay or France in the quarter-finals as they look to better their run to the final four in 2022.
Canada vs Morocco highlights
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