Canada 0-3 Morocco: Battered but clinical, the Atlas Lions avoid the trap thanks to a timely Ounahi double at World Cup 2026

Morocco were heavy favoured going into their last-16 necktie astatine the 2026 World Cup, but they endured a acold much hard evening than the scoreline suggests earlier yet seeing disconnected Canada 3-0 connected Saturday astatine NRG Stadium successful Houston. Having survived the tempest successful the archetypal half, the Atlas Lions volition present look a imaginable quarter-final against France.

Do not beryllium fooled by the scoreline. Morocco were successful superior occupation successful the opening play and considered themselves fortunate to scope the interruption level. Criticised for wastefulness successful beforehand of extremity successful the radical stage, the Atlas Lions past produced a clinically businesslike 2nd half, with Azzedine Ounahi's brace proving decisive. Canada are present the archetypal of the 3 co-host nations to beryllium eliminated from the 2026 World Cup.

Canada 0-3 Morocco: What happened?

Caught cold, Morocco were instantly unsettled by Canada's precocious press, which forced respective turnovers successful the Moroccan antiaircraft third. One specified mistake near Oluwaseyi 1 connected 1 with Bono, who recovered brilliantly with a good prevention utilizing his foot. That infinitesimal encapsulated the opening exchanges, with the Canucks ascendant and creating a succession of openings that they yet lacked the objective borderline to convert.

Canada's organisation was excellent. Manager Jesse Marsch had his broadside perfectly positioned to chopped disconnected Morocco's accustomed outlets, leaving Hakimi, Mazraoui and Bouaddi repeatedly without options to interruption the lines and forcing the Atlas Lions into sterile possession. The vexation was evident — unusually animated connected the touchline, manager Mohamed Ouahbi watched his broadside cod 4 yellowish cards successful the archetypal fractional alone, including bookings for Hakimi and El Khannouss, some of whom mislaid their composure.

Morocco unafraid their spot successful the past eight! ?#FIFAWorldCup

But Morocco, having managed conscionable 1 changeable successful the opening 45 minutes done Rahimi — who had replaced the injured Saibari arsenic aboriginal arsenic the 22nd infinitesimal — made their archetypal existent accidental count. From a free-kick routine, Hakimi recovered Ounahi, who hammered a ferocious effort from extracurricular the box. The extremity knocked the upwind retired of Canada, who struggled to retrieve their first-half momentum.

The Canucks attempted to respond successful the closing stages, but Bono remained alert. Morocco past benefited from the abstraction near by Canada pushing forward, and Ounahi struck again to treble the vantage from a Brahim Diaz assist. After a Rahimi header struck the crossbar, the Atletico Madrid guardant yet scored the 3rd and past goal, from different Diaz's pass — the Real Madrid man's 4th extremity publication astatine the tournament.

Ounahi x2 ?? ?#FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/IBtny6O0EX

Canada 0-3 Morocco: The cardinal constituent — Saibari forced disconnected injured

Ismail Saibari had been 1 of Morocco's standout performers astatine the tournament, becoming the archetypal African subordinate successful World Cup past to people successful each of the 3 group-stage matches. Saturday proved acold much hard for the caller Bayern Munich signing, however. Following a collision with Bombito, Saibari grabbed the backmost of his thigh and was forced disconnected successful the 22nd minute, replaced by Rahimi. The versatile guardant whitethorn good beryllium suffering the carnal toll of the other clip and punishment shootout against the Netherlands erstwhile circular connected Tuesday.

What happens next: Morocco await France — and hold connected Saibari's fitness

The triumph reinforces Morocco's consistency astatine the highest level and books them a spot successful the quarter-finals. They volition look the victor of the France versus Paraguay necktie astatine Gillette Stadium successful Foxborough connected Thursday astatine 9pm BST.

Eliminated by France successful the semi-finals of the erstwhile variation — 2-0 — the Atlas Lions imagination of revenge against the tournament's ascendant force. Whether Saibari volition beryllium disposable for that fixture remains to beryllium seen, arsenic muscular injuries are notoriously unpredictable successful presumption of betterment timescales.