2026 World Cup: Ounahi Leads Morocco to the Quarterfinals; Canada Is Eliminated

The 2026 World Cup bids farewell to the first national team representing the three host countries in the round of 16. That team is Canada, which, in its “away” match in Houston, fell to a dominant Morocco side that, with a 3-0 victory, earned the right to continue its World Cup run against the winner of Paraguay vs. France. Azzedine Ounahi was the star of the show, scoring a brace before Soufiane Rahimi’s goal sealed the victory in stoppage time.

A decisive result, which was surprising, to say the least, given what we saw on the field in the first ten minutes. The first chance actually came from Jonathan David, but the Juventus forward saw his shot blocked by Bono. Then, following a major clearance error by El Aynaouoi, Oluwaseyi completely missed the target in a one-on-one with Morocco’s goalkeeper. Canada paid dearly for those two missed chances in the second half: after a flurry of yellow cards in a match that grew increasingly tense, Hakimi found Ounahi with a free kick in the 50th minute, and Ounahi, unmarked, fired a low shot that gave the North African team the lead.

Canada’s response was only half-hearted: on a free kick earned by Eustaquio—the man who had secured qualification for the Round of 16 by scoring against South Africa—David squandered the opportunity with a shot that sailed too high. Then, in the 82nd minute, Morocco made the most of a counterattack when Brahim Diaz set up Ounahi—as usual—for the second goal and his second of the match. There was also time for Talbi to hit the crossbar before another goal—again on a counterattack and assisted by Brahim Diaz—this time scored by Rahimi in the 98th minute, even as the opposing goalkeeper, Crepeau, was desperately trying to help his team on offense.

For Canada, this elimination feels like a bitter blow, considering the historic run they’d had up to this point. The Canucks had already made history as the first national team to play an away game in a co-hosted World Cup—first in Los Angeles against South Africa and then again on the road in Houston. A scheduling quirk—set well before the group stage—deprived Jesse Marsch’s team of home-field advantage at precisely the most critical moments of the tournament.

Morocco, for its part, has confirmed its status as one of the tournament’s hottest teams. The Atlas Lions had already reached this round of 16 after eliminating the Netherlands on penalty kicks in the round of 32, in a match decided by misses from the penalty spot by Kluivert, Timber, and Summerville. Their advancement was built on the defensive solidity of Bono and his teammates and on the quality of an attacking unit that, as demonstrated again today, can be lethal on the counterattack.

Now, Ouahbi’s Morocco faces the quarterfinal challenge against the winner of Paraguay vs. France, scheduled for tonight in Philadelphia. The French are clear favorites: Mbappé and his teammates dominated their group and crushed Sweden 3-0 in the round of 16, while Paraguay is coming off a sensational upset, having eliminated Germany in the round of 16. For the Atlas Lions, fresh off a World Cup semifinal appearance in 2022, this would be yet another confirmation of their unstoppable rise.

For Canada, on the other hand, this inevitably prompts reflection on the future. Among the players most eagerly anticipated to prove themselves at the World Cup—and now inevitably at the center of criticism—is Jonathan David, who ended the tournament without making the impact that was expected of him. The Juventus forward, already at the center of transfer rumors as the club considers his future, will have to reflect on a World Cup performance that fell short of expectations, highlighted only by a few flashes of brilliance early in the match against Morocco.