Canada 0-3 Morocco: Ounahi brace and late Rahimi strike send Atlas Lions into quarter-finals
Morocco eliminated co-hosts Canada from the 2026 World Cup with a comprehensive 3-0 Round of 16 win in Houston, riding a second-half brace from Azzedine Ounahi and a stoppage-time finish from substitute Soufiane Rahimi. The first half stayed goalless despite Canada pressing high and creating chances, including a close-range effort from Tani Oluwaseyi that Morocco goalkeeper Yassine Bounou saved.
Morocco emerged sharper after the break and broke the deadlock in the 50th minute when Ounahi struck low into the bottom corner from the edge of the area after Achraf Hakimi's cutback from a free-kick delivery. Canada pushed for an equalizer but could not find a way past Bounou, and Morocco doubled their lead in the 82nd minute when Ounahi converted again, this time set up by a Brahim Diaz cutback on the counter-attack.
Rahimi, who had come on for the injured Ismael Saibari earlier in the match, added a third in the eighth minute of stoppage time, again assisted by Diaz, to complete the rout and end Canada's historic home tournament run. Morocco advance to the quarter-finals for a second straight World Cup and will face the winner of France vs Paraguay on July 9 in the New England/Boston area.
Key moments
- •Azzedine Ounahi scored twice (50', 82') to lead Morocco past Canada
- •Soufiane Rahimi sealed the win with a stoppage-time goal in the 8th minute of added time
- •Morocco's Ismael Saibari went off injured in the first half and was replaced by Rahimi
- •Canada dominated possession and chances in a goalless first half but could not convert
- •Morocco advance to the quarter-finals for the second consecutive World Cup
Timeline
Match facts
- Houston Stadium, Houston, Texas
- ▶
- Referee: Michael Oliver (England)
Match report generated from publicly available sources. Facts are drawn from the sources below.