Ounahi sends Morocco into the quarterfinals of the World Cup with a 3-0 win over Canada World Cup 2026 news

Azzedine Ounahi scored twice as Morocco scored three goals in the second half to end the tournament and reach the last eight.

Azzedine Ounahi scored twice to help Morocco beat Canada 3-0 in the World Cup Round of 16 as The Atlas Lions became the first African nation to reach the quarterfinals on multiple occasions.

This is Morocco’s second consecutive appearance in the last eight after becoming the first African team to reach the semifinals in 2022.

Canada dominated the opening stages but neither team scored on Saturday until the Moroccans scored in the 50th minute. Ounahi received a free kick from Achraf Hakimi and fired a right-footed shot that went outside the box into the top right corner.

Ounahi made it 2-0 with a right-footed shot from the center of the box after a pass from Brahim Díaz after a quick counterattack in the 82nd minute.

Soufiane Rahimi – who came on for the injured Ismael Saibari after 22 minutes – added a third in the last minute of stoppage time.

Morocco will face the winner of Saturday’s other game – Paraguay vs France – in Boston on Thursday.

Canada’s defeat ends a long history for the other World Cup players, who won their first match in the final 1-0 against South Africa. The Canadians were playing in the World Cup for the third time and their run impressed a country that usually prefers hockey more than football.

Morocco, ranked sixth in the FIFA rankings, dispatched the Netherlands in the round of 16 and sent the Dutch out of the World Cup early.

It was a very intense game with eight cards being dealt. Both teams received four.

Canada had a chance to score late. Jonathan David had a free kick from outside the box in the 78th minute, but his shot went over the crossbar.

Soon after, Tajon Buchanan’s shot from 30 yards was stopped by goalkeeper Yassine Bounou’s save. He was born in Canada to Moroccan parents and made three saves to help Morocco win.

The match was a repeat from the last World Cup in Qatar, where Morocco beat Canada 2-1 in the group stage to go on to finish fourth.