The World Cup 2026 round of 16 began with tournament co-hosts Canada taking on Morocco in Houston this evening. Before a ball had been kicked, the Atlas Lions were slight favourites to reach the quarter-final, but they needed a much improved second half performance to progress.
Azzedine Ounahi was the hero for Morocco as he scored twice in the second half to end Canada’s World Cup dream and send Morocco through. The midfielder was on hand to break the deadlock shortly after the half-time and then ended the last-16 showdown by firing an effort into the roof of the net as Morocco caught the co-hosts cold on the counter-attack.
Soufiane Rahimi then added a third goal in stoppage-time as Canada became the first co-hosts to fall at this summer’s expanded tournament. Morocco will now sit back to discover their next opponents and it could be that France could lie in wait as they face Paraguay later today, though a shock result cannot be ruled out. Follow Canada vs Morocco back below with our dedicated match blog.
Canada vs Morocco latest news
- GOAL! Rahimi scores in stoppage-time
- GOAL! Ounahi adds a second on the break
- GOAL! Azzedine Ounahi puts Morocco ahead
FULL-TIME
20:04 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
Canada 0-3 Morocco
Morocco progress to the World Cup quarter-finals.
GOAL! Canada 0-3 Morocco | Soufiane Rahimi ‘90+8
20:03 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
90+8 min: Game set and matched as Soufiane Rahimi adds a third in stoppage-time.
Canada 0-2 Morocco
20:01 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
90+6 min: Canada free-kick, you feel this has to go in to have any hope of a miracle.
And it comes to nothing.
Canada 0-2 Morocco
20:00 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
90+5 min: Canada are throwing everything at the Morocco goal. Literally everything as goalkeeper Crepeau has come up for the last two attacks.
Canada 0-2 Morocco
19:54 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
90 min: Canada pushing for a goal but a Morocco defender is first to every loose pass. They will have an extra eight minutes to find a way back into the game.
Canada 0-2 Morocco
19:52 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
88 min: CHANGES
MoroccoL El Mourabet and Saadane replace El Aynaoui and Diop.
Canada: Sigur and Buchanan make way for Nelson and Osorio.
Canada 0-2 Morocco
19:49 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
85min: Two really good finishes from Azzedine Ounahi and you feel that is game over.
Nearly a third for Morocco but Rahimi is denied by the crossbar.
GOAL! Canada 0-2 Morocco | Azzedine Ounahi ‘82
19:47 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
82 min: MOROCCO SCORE AGAIN!
Blistering counter-attack from Morocco, Brahim Diaz checks back, sets up Azzedine Ounahi who fires an effort into the roof of the net.
Canada 0-1 Morocco
19:43 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
79 min: David takes but his clipped effort sends the ball over the bar. Difficult to get the ball up and down from so close in.
P. David and Shaffelburg on for Ahmed and Laryea as Buchanan forces a save from Bounou.
Canada 0-1 Morocco
19:41 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
77 min: Eustaquio goes to ground on the edge of the area after being fouled by Amrabat and wins Canada a free-kick is a dangerous position. What a chance this is for the co-hosts and their fans behind the goal are spurring the team on.
David to take...
Canada 0-1 Morocco
19:39 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
75 min: Is that boos from the Canada fans for the slow build-up play?
Canada 0-1 Morocco
19:37 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
72 min: Play restarts after the hydration break. Still no sign of Davies coming on for Canada. His side are in desperate need of a lift and an injection of quality.
Canada 0-1 Morocco
19:32 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
68 min: Larin’s eyes light up as Hakimi’s attempt to shield the ball back to Bounou nearly backfires. The Canada substitute catches the Morocco goalkeeper late and is shown a yellow card for his troubles.
Hydration break time.
Canada 0-1 Morocco
19:30 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
65 min: Bombito with a challenge on Rahimi as the Morocco forward looked to latch onto a through ball, but he’s told to get to his feet.
Canada 0-1 Morocco
19:28 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
64 min: More gaps are appearing in the Canada defence and this will suit Morocco.
Canada 0-1 Morocco
19:27 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
62 min: Talbi and Amrabat replace Bouaddi and El Khannouss for Morocco. Those are straight swaps.
Canada have also made a change with Larin replacing Oluwaseyi.
Canada 0-1 Morocco
19:24 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
60 min: Buchanan goes down in the area and appeals for a penalty but the offside flag is raised. He had a shout had he been onside.
Canada 0-1 Morocco
19:23 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
59 min: Morocco coping a lot better with Canada’s corners. But here is a long throw to defend and Mazraoui makes first contact before El Khannouss tries to complete the clearance, though Canada are able to retain possession.
Canada 0-1 Morocco
19:20 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
56 min: Jesse Marsch on the sideline with a shake of the head. Such a cheap goal for his Canada side to concede, though it is a reminder that you must take your chances when on top in a game.
Canada 0-1 Morocco
19:19 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
54 min: Goalscorer celebrates with the creator.
Canada 0-1 Morocco
19:17 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
53 min: Goals change games. Never before has a saying been so true as this match, all of a sudden, has an open feel to it.
GOAL! Canada 0-1 Morocco | Azzedine Ounahi ‘50
19:16 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
50 min: MOROCCO LEAD!
Morocco take the lead with a well-worked set-piece. Azzedine Ounahi with a brilliant effort after the ball was rolled along the floor to him by Achraf Hakimi.
Canada left to rue all those missed chances.
Canada 0-0 Morocco
19:13 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
48 min: A couple of Canada players are asking for a second yellow to be shown to Ounahi but the referee had played the advantage and the co-hosts have a corner.
It’s played short and Sigur eventually puts the ball into the box but De Fougerolles lifts it over the bar and he is then booked for a foul on Rahimi.
Canada 0-0 Morocco
19:10 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
46 min: No changes for either side at the break. A reminder that Morocco lost Saibari in the first half with looks to be a muscle injury.
KICK-OFF!
19:09 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
Back underway in Houston.
Fan reaction: Bouaddi negativity
19:04 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
Bouaddi keeps losing possession and is a net negative going forward what is he good at?
— Cassius🏴🇺🇸 (@HoodiCassius) July 4, 2026
Fan thoughts: Bouaddi praise
19:01 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
Crazy that Bouaddi is just 18
— Fantasy Football with Louis (@FPLReaction) July 4, 2026
What a talent
Fan reaction: Bouaddi scouting report
18:58 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
Bouaddi plays with so much confidence and maturity you wouldn’t believe he’s just 18
— Kobi (@UTDKobi) July 4, 2026
Canada 0-0 Morocco
18:55 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
Canada have been the better side, but nothing to show for it.
Morocco, rocked by Ismael Saibari injury, will be the happier of the two teams.
HALF-TIME
18:52 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
Canada 0-0 Morocco
Canada 0-0 Morocco
18:52 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
45+6 min: Morocco have now had four players booked in the first half with El Khannouss the latest to be shown a yellow card. Chances of a red card before the end of the game?
Canada 0-0 Morocco
18:50 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
45+4 min: Chance for Morocco on the break, but Canada players flood back at pace to snuff out the danger.
Canada 0-0 Morocco
18:49 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
45+3 min: “Be serious, be serious” shouts Sigur towards the official. Clearly felt Canada conceded a cheap free-kick deep in the Morocco half.
Canada 0-0 Morocco
18:46 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
45 min: Michael Oliver has his card out again, this time to book Ounahi. Needs to regain control of this game does the England referee.
SIX minutes of stoppage time indicated.
Canada 0-0 Morocco
18:44 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
43 min: David is shown a yellow card for a foul on Brahim Diaz. Two booking apiece for each team.
Canada 0-0 Morocco
18:41 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
40 min: It’s all kicking off here as both sets of players have a coming together. Laryea not happy with Hakimi and both players are shown a yellow card.
Canada 0-0 Morocco
18:36 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
35 min: Halhal and Mazraoui go for the same ball, conceding a corner to Canada in the process. Poor communication between the Morocco pair but they are bailed out by Bouaddi as he’s able to win his side a free-kick.
Canada 0-0 Morocco
18:34 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
32 min: Rahimi nudges De Fougerolles to the floor and Morocco lose the chance to box Canada in high up in their own half.
Canada 0-0 Morocco
18:30 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
29 min: Canada play themselves into trouble and lose possession in their own half, Rahimi picks the ball and strikes at goal but Crepeau makes a comfortable save.
Canada 0-0 Morocco
18:28 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
27 min: Play resumes after the hydration break.
Canada 0-0 Morocco
18:27 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
26 min: Big blow for Morocco to lose their top scorer so early in the game. If they progress, you have to wonder if Saibari will be available.
Canada 0-0 Morocco
18:25 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
24 min: Time for the hydration break. Think Morocco will welcome this far more than the tournament co-hosts. They’ve not got going yet.
Canada 0-0 Morocco
18:23 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
22 min: This does not look good for Saibari. In fact, the change is made as he his replaced by Rahimi.
Canada 0-0 Morocco
18:21 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
20 min: Halhal is shown a yellow card for a foul on Oluwaseyi. The bigger concern for Morocco is Saibari is down and clutching his hamstring.
Canada 0-0 Morocco
18:20 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
19 min: Another Canada corner, the deliveries have been good so far and this one is floated into the area by Eustaquio and he picks out Johnston but his header is blocked.
Canada creating chances but just can’t put the ball in the back of the net.
Canada 0-0 Morocco
18:18 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
17 min: Long ball from Diop finds Saibari but the Morocco forward, who has been very quiet so far, is flagged offside.
Canada 0-0 Morocco
18:15 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
14 min: Perhaps one pass to many from Canada following a poor clearance from Hakimi. Eustaquio had the chance to shoot but picked out David in the box and he tried to help it on, giving Morocco the chance to step in and clear their lines.
Canada 0-0 Morocco
18:12 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
11 min: CHANCE! Oluwaseyi does brilliantly to fashion a chance for himself as he produces a wonderful touch to take the ball away from Halhal but Bounou rushes off his line to make a fine save.
Canada 0-0 Morocco
18:08 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
7 min: This is a good period of pressure from Canada as they win a third corner in quick succession. De Fougerolles with the flick-on at the near post which makes it difficult for Morocco to defend against, but they do.
Canada 0-0 Morocco
18:06 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
5 min: First chance for Canada to push forward and Laryea does well down the left-hand side to force a corner.
Eustaquio takes but Bounou punches the ball away and then makes a save from David.
Canada 0-0 Morocco
18:03 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
2 min: Looks like Halhal has gone in alongside Diop at centre-back for Morocco. There had been suggestions that Mazraoui would take up that role, but he has lined up at left-back.
KICK-OFF!
18:00 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
Away we go!
As things stand
17:59 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
It is knockout football, which means there are no second chances.
The winners progress to the quarter-final, facing either Paraguay or France.
Losers go home.
Not long now
17:58 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
The national anthems have been observed, as have the pre-match pleasantries between both sets of players and officials.
Kick-off is next.
HERE WE GO!
17:52 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
The teams are out at the Houston Stadium.
The national anthems are next.
Morocco: The story so far
17:50 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
Brazil 1-1 Morocco
Scotland 0-1 Morocco
Morocco 4-2 Haiti
Netherlands 1-1p Morocco
Canada: The story so far at World Cup 2026
17:48 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
Canada 1-1 Bosnia
Canada 6-0 Qatar
Switzerland 2-1 Canada
South Africa 0-1 Canada
Kick-off approaching in Texas
17:45 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
15 minutes to go until kick-off at the Houston Stadium.
World Cup round of 32 results
17:40 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
Germany 1-1p Paraguay
France 3-0 Sweden
South Africa 0-1 Canada
Netherlands 1-1p Morocco
Portugal 2-1 Croatia
Spain 3-0 Austria
United States 2-0 Bosnia
Belgium 3-2 Senegal
Brazil 2-1 Japan
Ivory Coast 1-2 Norway
Mexico 2-0 Ecuador
England 2-1 DR Congo
Argentina 3-2 Cape Verde
Australia 1-1p Egypt
Switzerland 2-0 Algeria
Colombia 1-0 Ghana
Around the grounds
17:35 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
Today's other last-16 tie sees pre-tournament favourites France face a Paraguay side that have already knocked out Germany on penalties.
Kick-off at the Philadelphia Stadium is at 10pm BST.
The winners of this game face the winners of that.
Team news reminder
17:30 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
Here is how both teams will line-up today.
Canada XI: Crepeau; Johnston, De Fougerolles, Bombito, Laryea, Sigur; Eustaquio, Ahmed, Buchanan; David, Oluwaseyi.
Substitutes: St Clair, Goodman, Jones, Waterman, Cornelius, Davies, Choiniere, Millar, Shaffelburg, Osorio, Saliba, Larin, P.David, Nelson
Morocco XI: Bounou; Hakimi, Mazraoui, Diop, Halhal; Saibari, Bouaddi, Ounahi, El Aynaoui, El Khannouss; Diaz
Substitutes: El Kajou, Tagnaouti, Saadane, El Ouahdi, Riad, Belammari, Salah-Eddine, Amrabat, Talbi, El Mourabet, Yassine, Rahimi, Sbai, El Kaabi, Amaimouni.
Arrivals
17:25 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
Here is footage of the Morocco squad arriving at the Houston Stadium.
وصول منتخبنا الوطني إلى ملعب المباراة 🏟️
— Équipe du Maroc (@EnMaroc) July 4, 2026
𝘾𝙝𝙚𝙘𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙞𝙣 ✅ 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐀𝐓𝐋𝐀𝐒 𝐋𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒 are here 🦁📍#DimaMaghrib 🇲🇦 #FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/iGbmShKMlF
Fan reaction: Bouaddi to Man Utd?
17:20 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
Manchester united midfield target Ayyoub Bouaddi STARTS for Morocco to face Canada #mufc pic.twitter.com/iZU2mNsrv7
— G@vin (@Gavin22j) July 4, 2026
Watch: Canada send-off
17:15 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
A beautiful send-off in Houston. See you at the stadium!#CANMNT pic.twitter.com/Nu4JWjqYPg
— CANMNT (@CANMNT_Official) July 4, 2026
Fan reaction: Bouaddi scouting opportunity
17:10 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
The kid Ayyoub Bouaddi is starting for Morocco!!
— Vick (@WaqarVick) July 4, 2026
Morocco changes
17:05 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
Big blow for Morocco as Chadi Riad has not recovered from the knock sustained against Netherlands and drops out of the starting XI.
Redouane Halhal comes in for the Crystal Palace defender.
Canada changes
17:00 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
Jesse Marsch has named Alphonso Davies on the bench for Canada’s World Cup last-16 clash against Morocco.
Elsewhere there are three changes to the side from the round of 32 win over South Africa.
Luc de Fougerolles, Niko Sigur and Ali Ahmed all return.
Morocco team in full
16:55 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
Morocco XI: Bounou; Hakimi, Mazraoui, Diop, Halhal; Saibari, Bouaddi, Ounahi, El Aynaoui, El Khannouss; Diaz
Substitutes: El Kajou, Tagnaouti, Saadane, El Ouahdi, Riad, Belammari, Salah-Eddine, Amrabat, Talbi, El Mourabet, Yassine, Rahimi, Sbai, El Kaabi, Amaimouni.
Canada team in full
16:50 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
Canada XI: Crepeau; Johnston, De Fougerolles, Bombito, Laryea, Sigur; Eustaquio, Ahmed, Buchanan; David, Oluwaseyi.
Substitutes: St Clair, Goodman, Jones, Waterman, Cornelius, Davies, Choiniere, Millar, Shaffelburg, Osorio, Saliba, Larin, P.David, Nelson
CONFIRMED MOROCCO TEAM NEWS
16:45 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
Lining up for Morocco...
🚨 التشكيلة الرسمية لـ منتخبنا الوطني أمام كندا
— Équipe du Maroc (@EnMaroc) July 4, 2026
📋 Our National Team’s 𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐑𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐗𝐈 against Canada 🇨🇦#DimaMaghrib 🇲🇦 #FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/FAzCUfJyV8
CONFIRMED CANADA TEAM NEWS
16:40 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
Here is the Canada team selected to face Morocco...
Today’s starters, presented by @GE_Appliances
— CANMNT (@CANMNT_Official) July 4, 2026
🍁 Max in-between the sticks
🍁 Staqs and Niko in the midfield
🍁 JD and Tani up top
ALLEZ LES ROUGES!#CANMNT pic.twitter.com/apzQVjGPqk
Canada vs Morocco LIVE - team news imminent
16:35 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
The teams will be announced shortly!
Stay tuned...
Why are Canada not playing on home soil?
16:30 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
Despite being one of three co-hosts for the World Cup, Canada are the only co-hosts to not be playing on home soil during the last-16.
Mexico take on England in Mexico City tomorrow, while USA face Belgium in Seattle on Monday.
The reason for this is simple, Canada finished second in their group and therefore Switzerland will have the luxury of playing their last-16 tie in Vancouver.
From the quarter-finals, every game will be played in the United States.
Canada vs Morocco stats
16:25 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
- Morocco have conceded just four goals in four matches at the 2026 World Cup, including a clean sheet against Scotland
- Canada have scored only one goal per game against Bosnia-Herzegovina (1-1), Switzerland (2-1) and South Africa (1-0)
- Ismael Saibari has netted three group stage goals and converted the decisive penalty against the Netherlands
- Canada have never beaten Morocco in four meetings (0W, 1D, 3L)
Today's official
16:20 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
Premier League fans will be familiar with today's official...none other than Michael Oliver.
This is his third game of the tournament having overseen Netherlands 5-1 Sweden and Norway 1-4 France.
Morocco predicted XI
16:15 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
The big question mark is the fitness of central defender Chadi Riad.
If fit, Morocco could name an unchanged team for the World Cup last-16 tie.
Predicted Morocco XI: Bono; Hakimi, Diop, Riad, Mazraoui; Bouaddi, El Aynaoui; Diaz, Ounahi, El Khannouss; Saibari.
Predicted Canada XI
16:10 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
It is not entirely clear whether Alphonso Davies is fit enough to start, but Jesse Marsch has little need to rotate, with Ismael Kone the only absentee.
Stephen Eustaquio was the hero goalscorer against South Africa and will keep his place, with strikers Jonathan David and Tani Oluwaseyi also looking to get their names on the scoresheet.
At the other end, Maxime Crepeau impressed against Bafana Bafana and will continue between the sticks.
Predicted Canada XI: Crepeau; Johnston, Bombito, Cornelius, Davies; Buchanan, Saliba, Eustaquio, Millar; Oluwaseyi, David
Today's settings
16:05 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
This will be the seventh and final World Cup 2026 fixture to be hosted here at the Houston Stadium (NRG Stadium).
It's a venue that has produced some high scoring games, including Germany's 7-1 thrashing of Curacao.
Canada vs Morocco latest match odds
16:00 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
Canada to progress: 12/5
Morocco to progress: 3/10
Head to head (h2h) history and results
15:55 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
The two sides met four years ago in Qatar with Morocco coming out on top in the group phase encounter, extending their unbeaten record against Canada to four games.
Canada wins: 0
Morocco wins: 3
Draws: 1
Score prediction
15:50 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
Canada have never beaten Morocco in four previous meetings and we do not expect that to change today.
Morocco to win, 3-1.
Morocco team news
15:45 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
Chadi Riad was substituted against Netherlands after sustaining a knock, and it remains to be seen if he will be fit to feature.
Contingency plans include dropping Noussair Mazraoui into central defence alongside Issa Diop.
Canada team news
15:40 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
Canada will certainly be without Ismael Kone after the midfielder suffered a broken tibia during the group stage match against Qatar.
Captain Alphonso Davies returned to action as a substitute in the win over South Africa and could make his first start of the tournament.
How to watch
15:35 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
TV channel: In the UK, the game will be televised live on ITV1, with coverage starting at 5.15pm BST.
Live stream: UK viewers can also catch the contest live online via ITVX and the ITV website.
Live blog: You can follow all the action right here via Standard Sport’s live blog.
Free highlights: World Cup highlights are available on FIFA’s official YouTube channel, along with BBC iPlayer / ITVX app and their websites.
Canada vs Morocco LIVE
15:30 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
Hello and welcome to Standard Sport’s LIVE coverage of Canada vs Morocco!
Business is about to pick up at the World Cup with the first last-16 tie as the co-hosts face the team who finished fourth in Qatar four years ago.
We’ll have all the latest updates, build-up and team news right here ahead of kick-off, which comes at 6pm BST from the Houston Stadium. Stick with us!
