SPORTS

Morocco beat Canada 3-0 to reach World Cup quarterfinals

Morocco will face the winners of Saturday’s round of 16 clash between Paraguay and France in the quarterfinals on July 9.

By Reuters Published: 2026-07-04T23:14:00+04:00 1 min read

Morocco's Soufiane Rahimi, right, is congratulated by teammates after scoring his side's 3rd goal against Canada during the World Cup round of 16 soccer match in Houston, Saturday, July 4, 2026. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

HOUSTON: Azzedine Ounahi scored twice as Morocco beat Canada 3-0 ‌in the World Cup last 16 on Saturday, ending the record run of the co-hosts in the tournament and advancing to the ⁠quarter-finals for a second time in a row.

Morocco took the lead on 50 minutes from ‌a well-worked free-kick routine as Achraf Hakimi played a low pass from ‌the right-hand side to Ounahi, ‌who side-footed into the bottom corner ‌of the ‌net from 25 yards.

Morocco's players celebrate their 3-0 win after the World Cup round of 16 soccer match between Canada and Morocco in Houston, Saturday, July 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Ounahi added a second on 82 ‌minutes when a four-on-two break led ⁠to Brahim Diaz teeing the midfielder up to fire into the top ⁠corner.

Morocco added a late third via another lightning break as substitute Soufiane ⁠Rahimi crowned a convincing performance.

Morocco lost striker Ismael Saibari, who has three goals in the tournament, to a hamstring injury in ‌the first half.

Morocco will face the winners of Saturday’s round of 16 clash between Paraguay and France in the quarterfinals on July 9.