World Cup 2026: Ounahi Double Sends Morocco Past Canada 3-0

Ounahi's brace shreds Canada in a sweltering Houston

This World Cup 2026 Round of 16 tie promised a taut contest and delivered a demolition. Morocco beat Canada 3-0 at the NRG Stadium in Houston, and the scoreline scarcely flatters the winners. On a sweltering, clear afternoon, Azzedine Ounahi struck twice and Soufiane Rahimi added a third deep into stoppage time to book Morocco's place in the quarter-finals.

For all Canada's endeavour, the numbers tell a story of chances squandered and killer touches missing. Canada actually edged the expected goals count — 0.85 to Morocco's 0.78 (expected goals, or xG, measures the quality of chances created) — and forced three saves from the Moroccan goalkeeper. But Morocco carried the greater menace where it mattered, fashioning three big chances to Canada's one and hitting the target with four of their five shots, a shooting accuracy of 80 per cent against Canada's 30. Morocco also controlled the ball, 55 per cent possession to 45, and defended with real ferocity, racking up 51 clearances. Ruthless at one end, resolute at the other — that was the difference.

With the result, Morocco advance to the quarter-finals, scheduled for 9 July, where they will face the winner of the tie between Paraguay and France. That opponent is not yet decided, so Morocco wait to learn whether it is the South Americans or the French who stand between them and a place in the last four.

How Canada and Morocco lined up in Houston

Goalless at the break, then Ounahi opened the floodgates

The early drama was disciplinary rather than decisive. Morocco's Rachid Halhal was booked on 20 minutes, and just two minutes later Morocco reshuffled early, Soufiane Rahimi coming on for Ismael Saibari. As the first half wore on, tempers frayed and the cards flew: Achraf Hakimi and Richie Laryea both went into the book on 40 minutes, Jonathan David followed on 43, and Ounahi and Bilal El Khannouss added their names before the interval. Referee Michael Oliver had a busy notebook, yet the sides went in level.

The match tilted almost immediately after the restart. On 50 minutes, Hakimi picked out Ounahi and the midfielder swept Morocco in front. Canada threw bodies forward, but Morocco's shape held. Their substitutions on 63 minutes — Sofyan Amrabat on for Adam Bouaddi, Chemsdine Talbi on for El Khannouss — steadied the ship, while Canada sent on Cyle Larin for Tani Oluwaseyi in search of a way back.

Any hope Canada nursed evaporated on 82 minutes, when Brahim Diaz teed up Ounahi for his second and Morocco's second. Then, deep into eight minutes of added time, Diaz turned provider again for Rahimi to make it 3-0 at the death, a fitting flourish to cap a commanding Moroccan display.

The community backed Morocco — and Spain nailed the score

The futbol.so community read this one correctly. There was a clear consensus leaning towards a Morocco win, and the official model agreed, making the North Africans firm favourites and even projecting the exact 0-3 result that unfolded.

The margin, though, caught most off guard. The most popular predicted scoreline was a tighter Canada 1 - Morocco 2, echoed by fans in Argentina and Austria, while Colombia's supporters leaned to an even cagier 0-1 in Morocco's favour. It was Spain's community who called it to the letter, favouring Canada 0 - Morocco 3 — the very result that lit up the NRG Stadium. Right team, but only one corner of the community truly saw the scale of Morocco's dominance coming.

Video highlights

Résumé : CANADA - MAROC, les LIONS de l'ATLAS encore en 1/4 de finale ? (8èmes de finale)

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Morocco advance to World Cup Quarterfinals 🔥 FULL REACTION to 3-0 win vs. Canada | ESPN FC

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Azzedine Ounahi Goal | Canada 0-3 Morocco | FIFA World Cup 2026™

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Highlights | Canada 0-3 Morocco | FIFA World Cup 2026™

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FIFA WC 2026 | Canada - Morocco 0:3 | (osmina finala ) | 04.07.2026.

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Post-Match Player Interviews: Canada 0-3 Morocco

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Canada v Morocco Full Post Match Analysis | FIFA World Cup 2026

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HIGHLIGHTS - Canada v Morocco | Clinical Counter Attacks | FIFA World Cup 2026

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Post-Match Press Conference: Canada's Jesse Marsch On 3-0 Loss To Morocco

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OUNAHI e BONO portano il Marocco ai QUARTI | Canada-Marocco 0-3 | FIFA World Cup | DAZN Highlights

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Canadá vs Marruecos (0-3) | Resumen y goles | Highlights Copa Mundial de la FIFA 2026™

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Post-Match Press Conference: Morocco's Mohamed Ouahbi On The 3-0 Win Over Canada

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World Cup: Canada vs Morocco

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World Cup: Canada vs Morocco

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World Cup: Canada vs Morocco

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Morocco march on, carried by an Ounahi performance that turned a delicate knockout tie into a statement. Canada, meanwhile, bow out of the round having contributed plenty but paid for their profligacy in front of goal.

Attention now shifts to 9 July and the quarter-finals, where Morocco will meet either Paraguay or France. Whoever emerges from that tie, the North Africans will fancy their chances if they can bottle this blend of control and clinical finishing again.