Morocco reach 2026 World Cup quarter-finals after 3-0 win over Canada in Houston

What happened? Morocco defeated Canada 3-0 in the round of 16 at the 2026 World Cup in Houston, manager Mohamed Ouahbi said after the match on the day of the game; the victory sent Morocco into the quarter-finals and extended their unbeaten run to 34 matches.

The match in Houston began with Canada creating early chances, but Moroccan goalkeeper Bono saved attempts from Jonathan David and Tani Oluwaseyi, while Morocco registered few attempts on goal in the first half.

After a slow start, Morocco took control of the game and converted their opportunities, with Brahim Diaz providing two assists and Achraf Hakimi influential on the right flank.

Ouahbi said the first half was intense and required adjustments at half-time, but stressed the team did not change its identity and relied on resilience to secure the win.

Statistically, Morocco advanced to a second successive World Cup quarter-final and have now recorded four World Cup knockout victories—two in 2022 and two in 2026—the same total as all other African nations combined.

Morocco remained unbeaten across their last 34 matches in all competitions, a run that includes the retroactively awarded 2026 Africa Cup of Nations final against Senegal, a result currently under legal challenge.

Earlier in the tournament, Morocco drew with Brazil and recorded wins over Scotland and Haiti, then progressed past the Netherlands in the round of 32 with a stoppage-time header.

BBC 5 Live pundit Chris Sutton noted Morocco’s lethargic start in Houston and warned tougher tests lie ahead, suggesting a repeat of that first-half performance against stronger opponents could prove costly.

Morocco will play their quarter-final in Boston at 21:00 BST on Thursday, 9 July, with the possibility of meeting France in the last eight.

Long-term investment in Moroccan football under King Mohammed VI, including an academy opened in 2009 and a $65m training complex opened in 2019, has been credited by manager Ouahbi for the national team’s rise and its ability to recruit diaspora talent such as Hakimi and Diaz.

Ouahbi described the current run as the continuation of a project that transformed Moroccan football after two decades without World Cup qualification, and said the team aims to sustain similar World Cup performances in future tournaments.