Morocco crushes Canada 3-0 to reach 2026 World Cup quarter-finals

Morocco's national team demonstrated its scoring prowess on Saturday, securing a hard-fought 3-0 victory against Canada in Houston to advance to the World Cup quarter-finals. The win sets them up to play the victor of the France-Paraguay match.

Azzedine Ounahi, a midfielder for Girona, broke the deadlock in the 50th minute with a goal originating from a set-piece play designed by coach Mohamed Ouahbi. This goal came after Canada, in their first-ever World Cup knockout stage appearance, had shown superiority in the match.

Morocco, a semi-finalist in the previous World Cup, displayed the resilience and tactical maturity of a top team. Despite a strong physical performance from Canada, characterized by aggressive play and a hunger for goals, Morocco's solid defense, anchored by a decisive Yassine Bounou in goal, and their ability to capitalize on limited chances proved crucial.

Canada's intensity in the first half led to a scoreless draw at halftime, with Morocco receiving four yellow cards. However, Morocco regrouped, and after Ounahi's opening goal, they adopted a more defensive posture, seeking opportunities on the counter-attack. Brahim Diaz played a key role in orchestrating these breaks, assisting Ounahi for his second goal in the 82nd minute. With the game secured, Soufiane Rahimi added a final goal, sealing Morocco's progression.