The Atlas Lions of Morocco produced a masterclass performance in the World Cup 2026 round of 16, comfortably dismantling tournament co-hosts Canada 3-0 at the NRG Stadium in Houston. A sensational second-half brace from Girona midfielder Azzedine Ounahi and a stoppage-time exclamation point from Al-Ain forward Soufiane Rahimi sealed a commanding victory for Mohamed Ouahbi's men, sending the North African giants back into the quarter-finals.
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Subscribe Sekarang →The match began with Canada showing immense early pressure, forcing Moroccan goalkeeper Yassine Bounou into several crucial interventions. Tensions flared high during a physical first half, with referee Michael Oliver handing out numerous yellow cards, including bookings for Jonathan David, Alistair Johnston, Richie Laryea, and Achraf Hakimi. According to editorial monitoring, despite Jesse Marsch's side dominating the opening exchanges, the teams went into the halftime break deadlocked at 0-0.
The tactical landscape shifted dramatically in the second half. Morocco broke the deadlock in the 50th minute when Achraf Hakimi accurately picked out Azzedine Ounahi from a right-side free kick, allowing the midfielder to smash a low driving shot past Canadian goalkeeper Maxime Crépeau. Luc de Fougerolles received a yellow card shortly after as Canada struggled to contain the rapid counter-attacking transitions orchestrated by the Moroccan midfield.
Azzedine Ounahi struck again in the 82nd minute to double the lead, curling a magnificent right-footed effort directly into the top corner after being brilliantly set up by Brahim Díaz. Canada attempted a desperate late surge, pushing goalkeeper Maxime Crépeau up for consecutive corner kicks in added time. However, Morocco capitalized on the empty space, launching a swift counter-attack that allowed Soufiane Rahimi to poke home a third goal in the 98th minute after initially hitting the crossbar moments earlier.
Based on the post-match tournament brackets, Morocco will now prepare for a highly anticipated quarter-final clash scheduled for Thursday, July 9, 2026, where they will face the winner of the round of 16 fixture between France and Paraguay. The historic triumph solidifies Morocco's status as a powerhouse in global football, while Canada exits their home tournament with pride after a valiant knockout stage run.