Ounahi lay on his back and beamed as his teammates hoisted him at midfield.
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“I’m proud of the whole group,” Ounahi said later in French. “It’s not just about me scoring today, or the last match where someone else scored. We’re a tight-knit unit; we all want the same thing and share the same goal. Whether it’s me scoring or someone else, we’re all happy.”
Morocco, the 2022 World Cup semifinalists, offered a reminder of their growing confidence on Saturday when they scored three second half goals and booked a ticket to their second consecutive quarterfinals. In doing so, they ended the dreams of up-and-comer Canada, who were playing in the round of 16 for the first time.
“We were the better team, but they made a couple more plays than us,” Canada coach Jesse Marsch said. “They have a little bit of quality in the final third and we lacked a little bit and didn’t make them pay when we needed to.”
Morocco cemented its status as a soccer titan and advanced to a second consecutive World Cup quarterfinals on Saturday with a 3-0 win over Canada, who became the first host nation eliminated from the FIFA 2026 World Cup.Morocco's midfielder #08 Azzedine Ounahi scores his team's second goal past Canada's goalkeeper #16 Maxime Crepeau during the 2026 World Cup round of 16 football match between Canada and Morocco at the Houston Stadium in Houston on July 4, 2026.
(PAUL ELLIS, AFP via Getty Images)
Azzedine Ounahi #8 of Morocco celebrates scoring his team's second goal during the FIFA 2026 World Cup Round of 16 match between Canada and Morocco. Azzedine Ounahi scored a brace for Morocco with goals in the 50th and 82nd minute and Soufiane Rahimi’s goal in second-half stoppage time squashed Canada’s hopes of prolonging its historic run.
(Lars Baron, Getty Images)Soufiane Rahimi #9 of Morocco celebrates with teammates after scoring his team's third goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 match between Canada and Morocco at Houston Stadium on July 04, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Kevin C. Cox, Getty Images)Morocco's midfielder #08 Azzedine Ounahi scores his team's second goal past Canada's goalkeeper #16 Maxime Crepeau during the 2026 World Cup round of 16 football match between Canada and Morocco at the Houston Stadium in Houston on July 4, 2026. (PAUL ELLIS, AFP via Getty Images)Canada's midfielder #07 Stephen Eustaquio heads the ball past Morocco's forward #09 Soufiane Rahimi during the 2026 World Cup round of 16 football match between Canada and Morocco at the Houston Stadium in Houston on July 4, 2026. (PAUL ELLIS, AFP via Getty Images)
Azzedine Ounahi #8 of Morocco scores his team's first goal past Maxime Crepeau #16 of Canada during the 2026 World Cup Round Of 16 match between Canada and Morocco at Houston Stadium on July 4, 2026 in Houston, Texas.
(Kevin C. Cox, Getty Images)
Players of Morocco celebrate the team's first goal scored by Azzedine Ounahi #8 (obscured) during the 2026 World Cup Round of 16 match between Canada and Morocco at Houston Stadium on July 04, 2026 in Houston, Texas.
(Lars Baron, Getty Images)
(L-R) Morocco's defender #03 Noussair Mazraoui, Canada's midfielder #17 Tajon Buchanan, and Morocco's defender #25 Redouane Halhal fight for the ball during the 2026 World Cup round of 16 football match between Canada and Morocco at the Houston Stadium in Houston on July 4, 2026.
(RONALDO SCHEMIDT, AFP via Getty Images)Morocco's Achraf Hakimi clashes with Canada's Richie Laryea as referee Michael Oliver separates them. (Troy Taormina, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters)Morocco's Achraf Hakimi is shown a yellow card by referee Michael Oliver as Canada's Stephen Eustaquio looks on. (Troy Taormina, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters)Players scuffle following an argument between Achraf Hakimi #2 of Morocco and Richie Laryea #22 of Canada during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 match between Canada and Morocco at Houston Stadium on July 04, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Lars Baron, Getty Images)Canada's Luc de Fougerolles in action with Morocco's Soufiane Rahimi during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Canada v Morocco Round of 16 match at Houston Stadium, in Houston, Texas, July 4, 2026. (MARIA LYSAKER, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters)Ismael Saibari #11 (C) of Morocco reacts after sustaining an injury during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 match between Canada and Morocco at Houston Stadium on July 04, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Molly Darlington, Getty Images)
Canada's midfielder #17 Tajon Buchanan and Morocco's midfielder #23 Bilal El Khannouss fight for the ball during the 2026 World Cup round of 16 football match between Canada and Morocco at the Houston Stadium in Houston on July 4, 2026.
(RONALDO SCHEMIDT, AFP via Getty Images)Niko Sigur #23 of Canada competes for the ball against Bilal El Khannouss #23 and Ayyoub Bouaddi #6 of Morocco during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 match between Canada and Morocco at Houston Stadium on July 04, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Lars Baron, Getty Images)Azzedine Ounahi #8 of Morocco reacts on the pitch as he is checked on by teammates and referee Michael Oliver during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 match between Canada and Morocco at Houston Stadium on July 04, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Lars Baron, Getty Images)Jonathan David #10 of Canada competes for a header against Noussair Mazraoui #3 of Morocco during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 match between Canada and Morocco at Houston Stadium on July 04, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Lars Baron, Getty Images)Issa Diop #14 of Morocco is challenged by Tani Oluwaseyi #12 of Canada during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 match between Canada and Morocco at Houston Stadium on July 4, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Kevin C. Cox, Getty Images)Tani Oluwaseyi #12 of Canada attempts an overhead kick during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 match between Canada and Morocco at Houston Stadium on July 4, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Lars Baron, Getty Images)Ismael Saibari #11 of Morocco competes for the ball against Moise Bombito #15 of Canada during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 match between Canada and Morocco at Houston Stadium on July 4, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Molly Darlington, Getty Images)Ismael Saibari #11 of Morocco walks off the pitch after sustaining an injury during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 match between Canada and Morocco at Houston Stadium on July 04, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Lars Baron, Getty Images)Morocco fans react in the stands during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Canada v Morocco Round of 16 match at Houston Stadium, in Houston, Texas, July 4, 2026. (TROY TAORMINA, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters)Canada's Jonathan David in action with Morocco's Redouane Halhal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Canada v Morocco Round of 16 match at Houston Stadium, in Houston, Texas, July 4, 2026. (Hannah McKay, REUTERS)Canada fan with their face painted during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Canada v Morocco Round of 16 match at Houston Stadium, in Houston, Texas, July 4, 2026. (Kai Pfaffenbach, REUTERS)Morocco coach Mohamed Ouahbi reacts during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Canada v Morocco Round of 16 match at Houston Stadium, in Houston, Texas, July 4, 2026. (Hannah McKay, REUTERS)Canada's defender #22 Richie Laryea and Morocco's defender #02 Achraf Hakimi argue next to English referee Michael Oliver and Canada's defender #04 Luc de Fougerolles during the 2026 World Cup round of 16 football match between Canada and Morocco at the Houston Stadium in Houston on July 4, 2026. (THOMAS COEX, AFP via Getty Images)Morocco's Achraf Hakimi is fouled by Canada's Richie Laryea. (Maria Lysaker, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters)Azzedine Ounahi #8 of Morocco scores his team's first goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 match between Canada and Morocco at Houston Stadium on July 4, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Lars Baron, Getty Images)Morocco's goalkeeper #01 Yassine Bounou reacts on the ground during the 2026 World Cup round of 16 football match between Canada and Morocco at the Houston Stadium in Houston on July 4, 2026. (PAUL ELLIS, AFP via Getty Images)Morocco's defender #02 Achraf Hakimi and Canada's midfielder #14 Jacob Shaffelburg fight for the ball during the 2026 World Cup round of 16 football match between Canada and Morocco at the Houston Stadium in Houston on July 4, 2026. (PAUL ELLIS, AFP via Getty Images)Yassine Bounou #1 of Morocco is attended to by teammates Redouane Halhal #25 and Neil El Aynaoui #24 of Morocco after a collision with Promise David #24 of Canada during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 match between Canada and Morocco at Houston Stadium on July 04, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Molly Darlington, Getty Images)Soufiane Rahimi #9 of Morocco scores his team's third goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 match between Canada and Morocco at Houston Stadium on July 04, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Lars Baron, Getty Images)Morocco's midfielder #08 Azzedine Ounahi celebrates scoring his team's second goal with teammates during the 2026 World Cup round of 16 football match between Canada and Morocco at the Houston Stadium in Houston on July 4, 2026. (RONALDO SCHEMIDT, AFP via Getty Images)1 / 35
Best photos from the tense Canada vs Morocco World Cup showdown in Houston
Best photos from the tense Canada vs Morocco World Cup showdown in Houston
Soufiane Rahimi #9 of Morocco celebrates with teammates after scoring his team's third goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 match between Canada and Morocco at Houston Stadium on July 04, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Kevin C. Cox, Getty Images)
Best photos from the tense Canada vs Morocco World Cup showdown in Houston
Morocco's midfielder #08 Azzedine Ounahi scores his team's second goal past Canada's goalkeeper #16 Maxime Crepeau during the 2026 World Cup round of 16 football match between Canada and Morocco at the Houston Stadium in Houston on July 4, 2026. (PAUL ELLIS, AFP via Getty Images)
Best photos from the tense Canada vs Morocco World Cup showdown in Houston
Canada's midfielder #07 Stephen Eustaquio heads the ball past Morocco's forward #09 Soufiane Rahimi during the 2026 World Cup round of 16 football match between Canada and Morocco at the Houston Stadium in Houston on July 4, 2026. (PAUL ELLIS, AFP via Getty Images)
Best photos from the tense Canada vs Morocco World Cup showdown in Houston
Morocco's Achraf Hakimi clashes with Canada's Richie Laryea as referee Michael Oliver separates them. (Troy Taormina, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters)
Best photos from the tense Canada vs Morocco World Cup showdown in Houston
Morocco's Achraf Hakimi is shown a yellow card by referee Michael Oliver as Canada's Stephen Eustaquio looks on. (Troy Taormina, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters)
Best photos from the tense Canada vs Morocco World Cup showdown in Houston
Players scuffle following an argument between Achraf Hakimi #2 of Morocco and Richie Laryea #22 of Canada during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 match between Canada and Morocco at Houston Stadium on July 04, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Lars Baron, Getty Images)
Best photos from the tense Canada vs Morocco World Cup showdown in Houston
Canada's Luc de Fougerolles in action with Morocco's Soufiane Rahimi during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Canada v Morocco Round of 16 match at Houston Stadium, in Houston, Texas, July 4, 2026. (MARIA LYSAKER, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters)
Best photos from the tense Canada vs Morocco World Cup showdown in Houston
Ismael Saibari #11 (C) of Morocco reacts after sustaining an injury during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 match between Canada and Morocco at Houston Stadium on July 04, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Molly Darlington, Getty Images)
Best photos from the tense Canada vs Morocco World Cup showdown in Houston
Niko Sigur #23 of Canada competes for the ball against Bilal El Khannouss #23 and Ayyoub Bouaddi #6 of Morocco during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 match between Canada and Morocco at Houston Stadium on July 04, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Lars Baron, Getty Images)
Best photos from the tense Canada vs Morocco World Cup showdown in Houston
Azzedine Ounahi #8 of Morocco reacts on the pitch as he is checked on by teammates and referee Michael Oliver during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 match between Canada and Morocco at Houston Stadium on July 04, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Lars Baron, Getty Images)
Best photos from the tense Canada vs Morocco World Cup showdown in Houston
Jonathan David #10 of Canada competes for a header against Noussair Mazraoui #3 of Morocco during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 match between Canada and Morocco at Houston Stadium on July 04, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Lars Baron, Getty Images)
Best photos from the tense Canada vs Morocco World Cup showdown in Houston
Issa Diop #14 of Morocco is challenged by Tani Oluwaseyi #12 of Canada during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 match between Canada and Morocco at Houston Stadium on July 4, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Kevin C. Cox, Getty Images)
Best photos from the tense Canada vs Morocco World Cup showdown in Houston
Tani Oluwaseyi #12 of Canada attempts an overhead kick during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 match between Canada and Morocco at Houston Stadium on July 4, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Lars Baron, Getty Images)
Best photos from the tense Canada vs Morocco World Cup showdown in Houston
Ismael Saibari #11 of Morocco competes for the ball against Moise Bombito #15 of Canada during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 match between Canada and Morocco at Houston Stadium on July 4, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Molly Darlington, Getty Images)
Best photos from the tense Canada vs Morocco World Cup showdown in Houston
Ismael Saibari #11 of Morocco walks off the pitch after sustaining an injury during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 match between Canada and Morocco at Houston Stadium on July 04, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Lars Baron, Getty Images)
Best photos from the tense Canada vs Morocco World Cup showdown in Houston
Morocco fans react in the stands during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Canada v Morocco Round of 16 match at Houston Stadium, in Houston, Texas, July 4, 2026. (TROY TAORMINA, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters)
Best photos from the tense Canada vs Morocco World Cup showdown in Houston
Canada's Jonathan David in action with Morocco's Redouane Halhal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Canada v Morocco Round of 16 match at Houston Stadium, in Houston, Texas, July 4, 2026. (Hannah McKay, REUTERS)
Best photos from the tense Canada vs Morocco World Cup showdown in Houston
Canada fan with their face painted during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Canada v Morocco Round of 16 match at Houston Stadium, in Houston, Texas, July 4, 2026. (Kai Pfaffenbach, REUTERS)
Best photos from the tense Canada vs Morocco World Cup showdown in Houston
Morocco coach Mohamed Ouahbi reacts during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Canada v Morocco Round of 16 match at Houston Stadium, in Houston, Texas, July 4, 2026. (Hannah McKay, REUTERS)
Best photos from the tense Canada vs Morocco World Cup showdown in Houston
Canada's defender #22 Richie Laryea and Morocco's defender #02 Achraf Hakimi argue next to English referee Michael Oliver and Canada's defender #04 Luc de Fougerolles during the 2026 World Cup round of 16 football match between Canada and Morocco at the Houston Stadium in Houston on July 4, 2026. (THOMAS COEX, AFP via Getty Images)
Best photos from the tense Canada vs Morocco World Cup showdown in Houston
Morocco's Achraf Hakimi is fouled by Canada's Richie Laryea. (Maria Lysaker, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters)
Best photos from the tense Canada vs Morocco World Cup showdown in Houston
Azzedine Ounahi #8 of Morocco scores his team's first goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 match between Canada and Morocco at Houston Stadium on July 4, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Lars Baron, Getty Images)
Best photos from the tense Canada vs Morocco World Cup showdown in Houston
Morocco's goalkeeper #01 Yassine Bounou reacts on the ground during the 2026 World Cup round of 16 football match between Canada and Morocco at the Houston Stadium in Houston on July 4, 2026. (PAUL ELLIS, AFP via Getty Images)
Best photos from the tense Canada vs Morocco World Cup showdown in Houston
Morocco's defender #02 Achraf Hakimi and Canada's midfielder #14 Jacob Shaffelburg fight for the ball during the 2026 World Cup round of 16 football match between Canada and Morocco at the Houston Stadium in Houston on July 4, 2026. (PAUL ELLIS, AFP via Getty Images)
Best photos from the tense Canada vs Morocco World Cup showdown in Houston
Yassine Bounou #1 of Morocco is attended to by teammates Redouane Halhal #25 and Neil El Aynaoui #24 of Morocco after a collision with Promise David #24 of Canada during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 match between Canada and Morocco at Houston Stadium on July 04, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Molly Darlington, Getty Images)
Best photos from the tense Canada vs Morocco World Cup showdown in Houston
Soufiane Rahimi #9 of Morocco scores his team's third goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 match between Canada and Morocco at Houston Stadium on July 04, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Lars Baron, Getty Images)
Best photos from the tense Canada vs Morocco World Cup showdown in Houston
Morocco's midfielder #08 Azzedine Ounahi celebrates scoring his team's second goal with teammates during the 2026 World Cup round of 16 football match between Canada and Morocco at the Houston Stadium in Houston on July 4, 2026. (RONALDO SCHEMIDT, AFP via Getty Images)
Canada took twice as many shots as Morocco and had double the final third entries. An upset seemed possible in the first half as the Atlas Lions struggled against Canada’s high press and mid-block defense.
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But Morocco locked in and delivered clinical finishes when it counted, proving that experience and depth matter on soccer’s biggest stage.
“The most important is how we kept our head up, the mentality we have, because we knew we didn’t play a good first half and we came out to put everything on the pitch,” said Morocco forward Brahim Diaz, who assisted two goals. “Sometimes in football, in life, you have bad times, but you keep your head up and keep going. I’m so proud of my team.”
But in the 22nd minute against Canada, Saibari limped off the field with a hamstring injury and Morocco had to replace its top goal-scorer of the tournament. After the game, coach Mohamed Oauhbi said he did not know Saibari’s status for the July 9 quarterfinal game.
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It speaks to Morocco’s depth that their option off the bench was Soufiane Rahimi, who scored eight goals for the Atlas Lions during their bronze-medal run at the 2024 Olympics. Rahimi made an immediate impact, taking Morocco’s first shot of the game in the 28th minute, and later scored in the final minute of second-half stoppage time to add an exclamation point to the victory.
“We have a very good group so we need to have confidence in everybody,” Morocco goalkeeper Yassine Bounou said. “I think all the players are doing a great job.”
Canada’s high press and chaotic attack had Morocco discombobulated in the first half. In the second half, Morocco turned Canada’s strengths against them.
Canada entered the game with the most corner kicks of any team in the World Cup but had yet to score on one. Defender Alistair Johnston joked on Friday that the last thing he’d be thinking about before walking onto the field was set pieces.
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Although Canada won 11 corner kicks against Morocco, it was Morocco who capitalized on a set piece for the game’s first goal. Captain Achraf Hakimi passed back to an unmarked Ounahi outside the penalty area and his first-touch shot scored in the 50th minute.
Ounahi scored again in the 82nd minute after Morocco took advantage of Canada’s high position, turned on the jets and outnumbered Canada’s defenders on a breakaway.
“To be able to get to the highest stage and to perform like that in the first half, I think it was a very good sign that the gap isn’t that big,” Canada midfielder Stephen Eustáquio said. “We just have to believe and we just have to keep pushing.”
At the end of the game, Rahimi celebrated by holding up a Moroccan flag in front of the nation’s elated supporters.
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“We are so proud to represent Africa because it’s a continent with a lot of talent and Africa deserved, with time, to be in the best level in football,” Bounou said. “And I want to say congratulations to Cabo Verde because they make us proud. They did a very good World Cup. Egypt are doing very good also I think all the teams from Africa this year are doing a very good job and they make us proud.”
No African team has reached the World Cup quarterfinals more times than Morocco. The Atlas Lions did so by recruiting dual-national players to form a patchwork quilt roster of players from different backgrounds, held together by a common goal and shared belief.
They include Bounou and French-born 18-year-old midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi, who represented France earlier in his career and decided in May to play for Morocco. Bouaddi arrived in the mixed zone after Saturday’s game wearing the jersey of Canadian forward Jonathan David, his former teammate with French club Lille.
“Personally, I am very happy and very proud,” Bouaddi said in French. “This is my first World Cup. But I think the team and the Moroccan people in general are very proud, too, and we’re going to keep doing everything we can to make them even prouder.”