Canada 0-3 Morocco: Ounahi double sends Atlas Lions to quarters
Morocco beat co-hosts Canada 3-0 in Houston on July 4, 2026, as Azzedine Ounahi scored twice in the second half and Soufiane Rahimi sealed a stoppage-time third. The 2022 World Cup semi-finalists became the first team to reach the 2026 quarter-finals and will face France in Boston on Thursday.
Canada's World Cup dream ended at NRG Stadium in the Round of 16, despite controlling much of the first half. Morocco flipped the script after the break, leaning on the same midfielder who stunned Spain at Qatar 2022. For fans tracking player longevity after injury setbacks, the night offered a sharp lesson in how elite careers can rebound when form and fitness align again.
Key Takeaways
- Morocco won 3-0 with goals from Ounahi (50', 82') and Rahimi (90'+8') to reach the quarter-finals.
- Canada became the first 2026 co-host eliminated despite creating the better chances before halftime.
- Ounahi's brace revived the 2022 World Cup form that made him a global name after years of injury-disrupted club football.
- Morocco will play France in Boston on Thursday, with a chance to avenge their 2022 semi-final defeat.
- Ismael Saibari left injured in the 22nd minute, forcing an early substitution that Morocco managed without losing momentum.
What was the final score and who scored?
Canada 0, Morocco 3. The match stayed goalless through a physical first half that featured six yellow cards and only five combined shots, per Yahoo Sports.
Five minutes into the second half, Achraf Hakimi disguised a free kick as a pass to Ounahi at the top of the box. The Girona midfielder swept a first-time shot through traffic and past Maxime Crepeau for 1-0. Ounahi struck again in the 82nd minute on a counter, with Brahim Diaz laying the ball back for a high finish. Rahimi added the third in the eighth minute of stoppage time after another Diaz assist.
How did Canada perform despite losing 3-0?
Canada entered the biggest match in its footballing history after winning its first-ever World Cup knockout game. Coach Jesse Marsch insisted afterward that his side was "the better team" and said he would "rather be us than them," reflecting how cruel the scoreline felt.
Les Rouges pressed early and forced saves from Yassine Bounou, including a diving stop on Tajon Buchanan's long-range effort. Morocco settled after a choppy opening period, but Canada carried more danger before the break. Once Ounahi scored, Morocco controlled the final 45 minutes while Canada chased an equalizer that never came.
Why does Ounahi's brace matter beyond this match?
Ounahi was the breakout star of Morocco's historic 2022 World Cup run to the semi-finals. His career stalled afterward amid injuries at Marseille and a loan spell in Greece, before he rediscovered rhythm at Girona ahead of this tournament, as The Athletic reported.
Against Canada, that resurgence turned into a match-winning performance on the biggest stage. For readers who follow how athletes extend peak performance after setbacks, his arc mirrors themes we cover in Longevity & Biohacking: patience through rehab, load management, and trusting a second act at the highest level.
What do the box score and match stats show?
A crowd of 68,777 watched referee Michael Oliver manage a tense, card-heavy affair in Houston. Morocco's clinical finishing decided a game Canada largely controlled territorially in the first half.
Bounou finished with three saves and a clean sheet. Morocco also navigated the early loss of leading scorer Saibari, who departed with an injury after 22 minutes. Rahimi's introduction did not slow the Atlas Lions. Morocco now joins France in the last eight and remains on course to match its 2022 run to the semi-finals — with Ounahi looking like the player who defined that campaign once again.