BREAKING: AFCON Runners-Up, Morocco Qualify For 2026 World Cup Quarter-Finals After Outclassing Co-Host Canada
Morocco became the first team to book a place in the quarter-finals of the 2026 FIFA World Cup after a dominant second-half display earned them a 3-0 win over co-hosts Canada.
The result also extended Morocco’s unbeaten run to 10 matches, while Canada’s campaign came to an end, making them the first of the tournament’s co-hosts to be eliminated.
Canada made the brighter start and nearly stunned the North Africans inside the opening 15 minutes. Tani Oluwaseyi found himself in a promising position but was denied by goalkeeper Yassine Bounou, who stood firm to keep the scores level.
The hosts continued to threaten before the break. Alistair Johnston headed straight at a Moroccan defender from close range after escaping his marker, while Morocco struggled to create clear openings. Their only effort of note in the first half came from Soufiane Rahimi, whose long-range strike was comfortably gathered by Maxime Crépeau.
Morocco emerged with far greater purpose after the interval and broke the deadlock within five minutes of the restart. Achraf Hakimi caught the Canadian defence off guard with a clever free-kick that picked out the unmarked Azzedine Ounahi, who calmly swept the ball into the bottom corner.
Canada searched for a response but lacked the cutting edge that had been evident early in the contest. Jonathan David missed a golden opportunity from a free-kick just outside the area, sending his effort over the crossbar.
Jesse Marsch’s substitutions injected fresh energy into the Canadian attack, and Tajon Buchanan forced Bounou into a fine save with a powerful strike from distance as the hosts pushed for an equaliser.
However, Morocco sealed the result in devastating fashion. Brahim Díaz broke clear on the right and unselfishly squared the ball for Ounahi, who rifled his finish into the roof of the net to complete his brace and send the Atlas Lions into the last eight.
Rahimi added further gloss to the scoreline by scoring Morocco’s third with virtually the final kick of the match.
The victory means Morocco have now won seven of their last nine knockout matches at major international tournaments. They will face either Paraguay or France in the 2026 FIFA World Cup last-eight.
