Morocco thrashes Canada 3-0 to reach World Cup 2026 quarterfinals

Morocco secured a commanding 3-0 victory over Canada on Saturday, advancing to the quarterfinals of the World Cup 2026 and becoming the first team to reach this stage. The match took place at the Houston Stadium in Texas.

Azzedine Ounahi was the star of the game, netting two goals in the second half at the 50th and 82nd minutes. Soufiane Rahimi sealed the win with a goal in the 90+8th minute. Despite a slow start, Moroccan stars Achraf Hakimi of PSG and Brahim Díaz of Real Madrid found their rhythm in the second half, creating opportunities down the right flank.

Canada, making its first-ever appearance in the knockout stage, had started strongly, putting Morocco under pressure in the first half. Captain Stephen Eustaquio and forward Jonathan David were key players, attempting to extend their team's historic tournament run. However, Morocco's defense held firm, and their offense found its clinical edge after halftime.

This marks Morocco's second consecutive appearance in the World Cup quarterfinals, having reached the semifinals and finished fourth in Qatar 2022. They will face the winner of the France-Paraguay match in the next round. The game saw intense physical play, with six yellow cards issued in the first half alone, highlighting the competitive nature of the encounter.