Canada 0-3 Morocco – Report, result, goals as ‘perfect finish’ by Ounahi and Rahimi send Atlas Lions into quarter finals

Azzedine Ounahi scored his first World Cup goals and substitute Soufiane Rahimi added a third late on to send Morocco to the 2026 quarterfinals and end Canada’s crucial race as the hosts left Houston.

Les Rouges won the first half and were unlucky not to go ahead when Bono, who blocked Jonathan David’s shot, blocked Tani Oluwaseyi in the face.

Morocco lost top-three scorer Ismael Saibari to injury before the break but went ahead five minutes after the break when Girona midfielder Ounahi came unmarked to meet Achraf Hakimi’s free-kick just outside the box and sweep low past goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau.

Bono pushed past Tajon Buchanan for a long-range drive before Brahim Diaz finished off a great run with a smart turn and pass to tee up Ounahi, who fired inside the penalty area with eight minutes remaining.

Soufiane Rahimi scored eight minutes into injury time to head home Brahim Diaz’s cross as Morocco advanced in style to a last-eight meeting with either France or Paraguay, who face each other in Philadelphia on Saturday (22:00 BST).

Morocco vs Canada: The Atlas Lions advance to the World Cup

The first African team to reach the semi-finals in 2022, Morocco drew with Brazil on their way to taking seven points from the group stage and a last 32 victory over the Netherlands made the last 32 a first-half appearance.

Rahimi, who replaced the late Saibari, almost added a third with a header from Ounahi as Morocco repeatedly troubled Canada on the break.

Jesse Marsch’s team will enter the record books for his country’s third appearance in the finals, winning the nation’s first ever World Cup by thrashing Qatar 6-0 on the second day of the match before knocking out South Africa in the last 32.

Marsch described Morocco as an almost flawless team in terms of build-up and the level and experience of the reigning African champions in the second half, which brought their memorable campaign to an impressive conclusion.

World Cup 2026: Canada ‘tough luck’ vs Morocco

Former Leeds United striker Lucy Ward said the contest was “not a 3-0 game”. “But when it counts, when you’re in front of the goal, Morocco just had that quality that Canada didn’t have,” Ward told ITV.

“It’s hard luck for Canada – they gave everything. They did very well, they even went far in this World Cup under Jesse Marsch.

“But that’s where it ends. [The goals were] three good endings.

“[Canada] he gave everything but it was not enough. Morocco found more quality in the second half. Canada couldn’t offer any more. “

World Cup 2026: Team Canada vs Morocco

Marsch made three changes to his debut team that beat South Africa, including Niko Sigur, Lucas De Fougerolles and Ali Ahmed.

Derek Cornelius, Nathan Saliba and Liam Millar have moved to the bench, while Alphonso Davies is still ruled out as the captain continues to recover from a hamstring injury.

Canada starting XI: Maxime Crepeau, Alistair Johnston, Luc De Fougerolles, Moise Bombito, Richie Laryea, Tajon Buchanan, Niko Sigur, Stephen Eustaquio, Ali Ahmed, Jonathan David, Tani Oluwaseyi

Canada Substitutes: Dayne St. Clair, Alfie Jones, Joel Waterman, Mathieu Choiniere, Cyle Larin, Liam Millar, Derek Cornelius, Jacob Shaffelburg, Owen Goodman, Alphonso Davies, Jonathan Osorio, Promise David, Nathan Saliba, Jayden Nelson

World Cup 2026: Team Morocco vs Canada

Morocco manager Mohamed Ouahbi made a defensive change, introducing Redouane Halhal for Chadi Riad, who had a knee injury.

Morocco starting XI: Yassine Bounou, Achraf Hakimi, Issa Diop, Redouane Halhal, Noussair Mazraoui, Brahim Diaz, Ayyoub Bouaddi, Azzedine Ounahi, Neil El Aynaoui, Bilal El Khannouss, Ismael Saibari

Morocco instead: Ahmed Reda Tagnaouti, Sofyan Amrabat, Marwane Saadane, Chemsdine Talbi, Soufiane Rahimi, Munir El Kajoui, Zakaria El Ouahdi, Samir El Mourabet, Gessime Yassine, Amine Sbai, Chadi Riad, Youssef Belammari, Ayoub El Kaabeg Amaishouni-Euahdi, Salah-Eddine

Morocco World Cup matches

Here’s where Morocco will be in the quarter-finals, and how to watch in the UK.

World Cup 2026: Statistics Canada vs Morocco

• Canada was making its first ever appearance in the World Cup knockout round and has scored in each of its last six games in all competitions.
• Jesse Marsch’s team recorded 100 pressures in the first half of the final against South Africa, which was the highest number in a World Cup match since data collection began in 2010.
• Marsch was aiming to become the first American manager to advance to more than one World Cup victory, as well as the first to win three games in the tournament.
• This was Canada’s sixth meeting with Morocco in all competitions, winless in the last four (D1 L3)
• They have only faced Scotland (6) and Iceland (5) more times in their history without a win
• Apart from the finals and the third-place playoffs, Morocco has advanced from seven of the last nine major tournaments (the World Cup and the Africa Cup of Nations).
• Morocco are unbeaten in their last 10 matches in all competitions
• They completed 801 passes against the Netherlands in the previous round, becoming only the second team behind Spain to complete 800 passes in a World Cup match since modern data tracking began.
• The Atlas Lions are unbeaten in Canada in senior men’s international football and won the match 2-1 at the 2022 World Cup.
• This victory was the first time they met a CONCACAF country in the World Cup, defeating Haiti 4-2 in this year’s group game.