Morocco advances to quarterfinals as first team with 3:0 over Canada, setting a new African record

On the Moroccan side, it took considerably longer for danger to materialize. In the 20th minute, striker Ismael Saibari, who was introduced as a new signing for Bayern Munich, had to be treated on the thigh after an awkward turn without opponent contact and was substituted as early as the 22nd minute. This was an early shock for the team of coach Mohamed Ouahbi. Morocco's only attempt in the first half came in the 28th minute from distance by the substitute Soufiane Rahimi.

In the 40th minute, a scuffle broke out after Achraf Hakimi, described as a former Borussia Dortmund player, had shoved an opponent. The incident apparently had no disciplinary consequences. The teams went to the locker rooms at 0:0.

Double strike after the break

After the switch of sides, it took five minutes for Morocco to strike. In the 50th minute, Azzedine Ounahi, a 26-year-old central midfielder, converted a free kick from Achraf Hakimi from 18 meters low into the bottom right corner. It was Morocco's first shot inside the penalty area in the match.

Canada responded, but the North Americans' next notable opportunity came in the 79th minute when Tajon Buchanan's long-range shot was saved by Bono. Shortly afterward, in the 82nd minute, Morocco struck cold-bloodedly: Brahim Díaz initiated a counterattack, and Ounahi finished it off to make it 2:0, capping his performance with a second goal.

Soufiane Rahimi put the finishing touch in the eighth minute of stoppage time (90+8) with another counterattack. The final score of 3:0 stood.

Morocco's historic record

Morocco now faces France in the quarterfinals on July 9 at 22:00 CEST in Boston, after France prevailed 1:0 against Paraguay in the parallel match. A duel carrying particular tension, as Morocco had already been eliminated by France in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar in the semifinals – by a score of 0:2 at the time.

With the qualification for the quarterfinals, Morocco continues its impressive tournament history: as early as 2022 in Qatar, the team was the first African nation to reach the semifinals, after defeating Spain in the round of 16 and Portugal in the quarterfinals.

France as next opponent

Canada, on the other hand, is eliminated as the first of the three host nations from the tournament. Coach Jesse Marsch, who is 52 years old, was sporting but also critical after the match: "We were the better team. Sure, they had a few more chances than us. They had a bit more quality in the final third, and that's where we were lacking."

Morocco's coach Mohamed Ouahbi described the character of the match as a battle: "We suffered. When you face a team that plays so intensely, you know from the start that there will be difficult moments." Canada's goalkeeper was Maxime Crepeau.

Elimination in the round of 16 for Canada

In parallel, France had prevailed against Paraguay through a penalty converted by Kylian Mbappé in the 70th minute. The penalty had been awarded after a video review (VAR). Mbappé, already described as France's superstar and the team's top star, increased his personal tournament goal tally to seven goals. France now faces Morocco.

Mbappé himself said after the match: "We can also play dirty, but we were still better than them."

Further tournament highlights

In the further course of the tournament, upcoming matchdays include the duel between Brazil and Norway. Brazil is record world champion with five titles; Brazil's Vinicius Jr. has already scored four goals in the tournament. Norway is participating in a World Cup for the fourth time; striker Erling Haaland has five tournament goals to his account. Additionally, Mexico faces England in the round of 16 at the Azteca Stadium; Mexico was most recently a host in 1986 and had reached the quarterfinals that year.

England is celebrating the 60th anniversary of its only World Cup title this year. Paraguay, for its part, had advanced to the round of 16 with a notable result against the German national team (DFB).

The broadcast of the report aired on Deutschlandfunk on July 5, 2026. Morocco's record remains unique for now in the football history of the continent.

The further course of the tournament will show whether Morocco can continue its historic run – the next hurdle awaits in the form of France in Boston.