Morocco produced another commanding FIFA World Cup<\/strong><\/a> performance by defeating co-hosts Canada 3-0 at NRG Stadium in Houston to secure their place in the quarter-finals. The Atlas Lions controlled much of the second half, with Azzedine Ounahi scoring twice before Soufiane Rahimi added a stoppage-time goal to complete an emphatic victory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The result extends Morocco’s remarkable World Cup journey following their historic semi-final appearance in Qatar in 2022. Walid Regragui’s men now head to Boston for a blockbuster quarter-final clash against France on July 9, while Canada’s dream run ends after reaching the knockout stage for the first time in their history as World Cup co-hosts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Both teams approached the Round of 16 encounter with plenty at stake. Canada hoped to continue their fairy-tale campaign in front of passionate support, while Morocco aimed to prove that their success in Qatar four years earlier was no coincidence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The opening stages were evenly contested, although Morocco suffered an early setback when midfielder Ismael Saibari was forced off through injury. Despite the disruption, the African side remained composed and gradually took control of possession.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The first half ended goalless, but Morocco returned after the break with greater intensity and purpose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The breakthrough finally arrived in the 50th minute.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Achraf Hakimi delivered a dangerous free-kick into the penalty area, and Azzedine Ounahi reacted quickest to guide the ball home, giving Morocco a deserved 1-0 advantage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Canada pushed more players forward in search of an equaliser, but doing so left space behind their defence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Morocco exploited that perfectly in the 82nd minute. A swift counterattack sliced through the Canadian backline before Ounahi calmly finished to score his second goal of the afternoon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n His outstanding display earned him the Man of the Match award after controlling the midfield and providing the attacking spark Morocco needed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Canada continued battling until the final whistle, but Morocco’s disciplined defence denied them any clear-cut opportunities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Deep into stoppage time, substitute Brahim D\u00edaz raced down the wing before delivering a perfectly weighted pass across goal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Soufiane Rahimi arrived at the far post to tap into an empty net, sealing a comprehensive 3-0 victory and sparking wild celebrations among the Moroccan supporters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The late goal also highlighted Morocco’s clinical finishing throughout the tournament.<\/p>\n\n\n\n While the attacking players earned most of the headlines, Morocco’s defensive unit once again showed why it remains one of the strongest in the competition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Canada struggled to create meaningful chances despite enjoying spells of possession, with Morocco’s back four remaining organised from start to finish.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Goalkeeper Yassine Bounou was rarely troubled as Morocco comfortably recorded another clean sheet on their road to the quarter-finals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Their defensive discipline continues to be one of the biggest reasons behind their success in the tournament.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Although he did not score, Brahim D\u00edaz made his own piece of history.<\/p>\n\n\n\n His assist for Rahimi’s goal was his fourth assist of the 2026 FIFA World Cup<\/strong>, the highest ever recorded by an African player in a single edition of the tournament.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Combined with Ounahi’s brace and Hakimi’s influence from defence, Morocco once again demonstrated the strength of their squad.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Despite the defeat, Canada can leave the tournament with plenty of positives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The co-hosts reached the knockout rounds for the first time in their World Cup history, producing several memorable performances along the way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Head coach Jesse Marsch’s side displayed resilience throughout the tournament and gained valuable experience against some of the world’s best teams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Although disappointment will be felt after the heavy defeat, Canada’s progress suggests a bright future as they continue to establish themselves among football’s emerging nations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Morocco’s reward is one of the biggest matches of the tournament.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Atlas Lions will meet France in Boston on July 9 in a repeat of the memorable 2022 World Cup semi-final.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Having already shown they can compete with the world’s elite, Morocco will believe another famous result is possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n France possess one of the strongest squads remaining in the competition, but Morocco have repeatedly demonstrated tactical discipline, defensive solidity and clinical finishing when opportunities arise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Football fans can expect one of the standout quarter-final matches of the FIFA World Cup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Morocco continue to carry the hopes of African football into the latter stages of the FIFA World Cup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Their balanced approach, combining disciplined defending with quick attacking transitions, has once again proven effective against strong opposition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For Canada, elimination cannot overshadow what has been a historic tournament. Their first-ever appearance in the knockout rounds provides a solid platform for future international competitions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Meanwhile, Morocco move one step closer to another unforgettable chapter in their football history, with confidence growing ahead of their highly anticipated quarter-final against France.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Stay tuned to Bangbet News<\/a><\/strong> for more FIFA World Cup 2026 match reports, previews, predictions and the latest tournament updates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Experience the pinnacle of football glory with Bangbet<\/a><\/strong> this World Cup as you elevate your betting journey through industry\u2011leading odds<\/strong>, exclusive bonuses<\/strong>, and generous cashback offers<\/strong> designed to maximize every wager. Stay ahead of the competition with expert squad insights<\/strong>, precise match predictions<\/strong>, and real\u2011time updates<\/strong> on all major tournament news. Whether you\u2019re a passionate fan or a seasoned punter, Bangbet delivers an unmatched experience that turns your passion into profit. Join Bangbet today to unlock an unparalleled betting adventure tailored for the ultimate football fan. Morocco produced another commanding FIFA World Cup performance by defeating co-hosts Canada 3-0 at NRG Stadium in Houston to secure their place in the quarter-finals. The Atlas Lions controlled much of the second half, with Azzedine Ounahi scoring twice before Soufiane Rahimi added a stoppage-time goal to complete an emphatic victory. The result extends Morocco’s […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":12549,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[35],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-12548","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-football-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bangbet.com\/ng\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12548","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bangbet.com\/ng\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bangbet.com\/ng\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bangbet.com\/ng\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bangbet.com\/ng\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=12548"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.bangbet.com\/ng\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12548\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":12550,"href":"https:\/\/www.bangbet.com\/ng\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12548\/revisions\/12550"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bangbet.com\/ng\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/12549"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bangbet.com\/ng\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12548"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bangbet.com\/ng\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=12548"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bangbet.com\/ng\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=12548"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}Match Summary<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Ounahi Inspires Morocco<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Rahimi Completes the Victory<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Morocco’s Defence Delivers Again<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
D\u00edaz Makes African World Cup History<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Canada’s Historic Journey Ends<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Morocco Set Up France Quarter-Final<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Key Match Statistics<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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What This Result Means<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Bet World Cup With Bangbet!<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Bangbet<\/a> More Than Win!<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"