Canada eliminated – Canada’s best-ever World Cup finish was stopped in Houston as Morocco delivered a 3-0 victory in the Round of 16. Azzedine Ounahi struck in the second half and completed his brace in the 82nd minute, before Soufiane Rahimi added a late goal in stoppage time.
Houston felt it before Canada’s dream had fully time to fade.
On Saturday, the co-hosts fought for something bigger than a moment, trying to build on their best-ever World Cup run. But in the Round of 16, Canada were cut down by Morocco, losing 3-0 in front of a crowd that had hoped this match would turn into a different story.
Morocco changed the temperature early in the second half. Midfielder Azzedine Ounahi drove a low shot through traffic into the bottom corner. sliding past the outstretched diving hands of goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau. It was the kind of strike that doesn’t ask permission from the defending line—it just finds the space and punishes it.
Canada stayed on their feet after the blow, pushing hard for an opening. They applied constant pressure with 32 touches in the opposing box, forcing Morocco into defending more than they might have wanted. Still, the Red and White couldn’t find the breakthrough.
Ounahi sealed the night with his brace in the 82nd minute, potting a shot into the top corner. With the contest already out of reach, Soufiane Rahimi delivered the final knockout in stoppage time—his goal in the eighth minute of added time adding salt to Canada’s wounds.
The message is now clear: Morocco advance to the quarterfinals. Their next match will be against either France or Paraguay, depending on a matchup scheduled to be played later on Saturday.
Canada Morocco World Cup Round of 16 Houston Azzedine Ounahi Maxime Crepeau Soufiane Rahimi France Paraguay quarterfinals