Match report

Ounahi Brace Knocks Out Co-Host Canada as Morocco Reach Quarter-Finals

Related teams:Canada, Morocco

Match statistics

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Round of 16M90
Canada
0 – 3
Morocco
  • Azzedine Ounahi 50'(Achraf Hakimi)
  • Azzedine Ounahi 82'(Brahim Diaz)
  • Soufiane Rahimi 90+8'(Brahim Diaz)
  • Richie Laryea 40'
  • Jonathan David 43'
  • Luc de Fougerolles 49'
  • Cyle Larin 67'
  • Redouane Halhal 20'
  • Achraf Hakimi 40'
  • Azzedine Ounahi 45'
  • Bilal El Khannouss 45+7'

HT 0–0|Poss 37–50%|Shots 10–5|SOT 3–4

Sat, Jul 4, 2026 • 17:00 (Houston local)

Houston Stadium (NRG Stadium) — Houston

Morocco beat co-hosts Canada 3–0 at Houston Stadium to become the first nation through to the World Cup 2026 quarter-finals. Azzedine Ounahi curled in from Achraf Hakimi's disguised free-kick on 50 minutes and blasted a second on the counter eight minutes from time, before Soufiane Rahimi rolled in Brahim Díaz's throughball in the eighth minute of stoppage time in front of 68,777 fans.

Canada had the better of a ill-tempered first half — Yassine Bounou denied Jonathan David and Tani Oluwaseyi — but Morocco took control after the break once Ismael Saibari had limped off injured. The match set a tournament record with eight yellow cards, six before half-time, as Achraf Hakimi and Richie Laryea were cautioned after a 40th-minute scuffle. Morocco finished with 50% possession, five shots and four on target to Canada's 10 and three.

The Atlas Lions advance to face France in Boston on Thursday — a rematch of the 2022 semi-final the Atlas Lions lost 2–0. Canada exit despite a historic campaign — their first knockout victory and first World Cup win as co-hosts — ending Jesse Marsch's side's dream in Houston.

Sources

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