Morocco Secure Quarter-Final Berth with Dominant Win Over Canada
Morocco's national football team celebrated a historic FIFA World Cup 2026 quarter-final qualification after a commanding 3-0 victory over co-hosts Canada in the Round of 16 on Saturday, July 4, 2026, in Texas, USA. The win made Morocco the first team to book a place in the last eight of the tournament.
Player of the Match Azzedine Ounahi Shines with Brace
Immediately after the final whistle, Moroccan players and support staff gathered around Azzedine Ounahi, lifting the midfielder onto their shoulders after his match-winning brace. The squad then approached the stands to acknowledge the travelling Moroccan supporters, standing together and applauding in unison as a gesture of gratitude. The fans responded by mirroring the celebration, creating a memorable moment.
Morocco's official X account shared a video of the celebrations with the caption: "Celebrating with our fans after reaching the quarter-finals." Forward Brahim Diaz also posted on X: "Together we are enormous. One more step toward the quarterfinals."
Second-Half Surge Seals Victory
After surviving sustained Canadian pressure in the first half, Morocco broke the deadlock five minutes after the restart. Achraf Hakimi's clever free-kick found an unmarked Ounahi, who calmly slotted home to put the African side ahead. Canada attempted to fight back, with Jonathan David wasting a promising free-kick and substitute Tajon Buchanan forcing goalkeeper Yassine Bounou into an excellent save from long range.
As the co-hosts committed numbers forward in search of an equaliser, Morocco struck again on the counterattack. Brahim Diaz raced down the right before cutting the ball back for Ounahi, who rifled his second goal into the roof of the net. Soufiane Rahimi added a third goal with virtually the final kick of the match to cap an outstanding second-half performance from Mohamed Ouahbi's side.
Morocco's Impressive Knockout Record Continues
The victory extended Morocco's unbeaten run to 10 matches and continued their impressive record in knockout football, with seven wins from their last nine matches in the knockout stages of major international tournaments. Canada's campaign ended with the defeat, but the co-hosts departed after making history by reaching the knockout stage of a FIFA World Cup for the first time.
