Image source: Alamy Stock Photo
2026 World Cup
Round of 16
Canada vs Morocco
Saturday 4 July
19:00
Houston Stadium
World Cup co-hosts Canada will look to upset a highly-regarded Morocco team in a Round of 16 clash at the Houston Stadium on Saturday 4 July, kick-off at 19:00.
Current form
Canada have made history at this World Cup by registering their maiden wins and advancing to the knockout stages for the first time. The tournament co-hosts were second in Group B after recording a 1-1 draw with Bosnia and Herzegovina, 6-0 win over Qatar and a 1-2 defeat to group winners Switzerland.
The Canucks then faced South Africa in a Round of 32 clash in Los Angeles on Sunday night and claimed a hard-fought 1-0 win – with Stephen Eustaquio scoring a beautifully-taken goal in injury time.
Morocco came home in second place in Group C, drawing 1-1 with table-toppers Brazil before 1-0 and 4-2 wins over Scotland and Haiti respectively.
The Atlas Lions followed that up with a strong display against the Netherlands, which ended in a 3-2 penalty triumph after a 1-1 draw.
The North Africans may have needed penalties and a late equalising goal from Issa Diop to cancel out Cody Gakpo’s opener, but they were the dominant team through the two hours – as evidenced by the fact that goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen was comfortably the Oranje’s best player.
Team news
Canada will hope Moise Bombito will be able to start again, having played almost an hour of the match against South Africa. Alphonso Davies made an impressive cameo, but is expected to remain an ‘impact’ player off the bench while he recovers full fitness. Coach Jesse Marsch will also ponder his forward options, with Promise David and Cyle Larin offering compelling alternatives to Tani Oluwaseyi.
Morocco will be sweating on the fitness of defender Chadi Riad, who was replaced due to injury against the Netherlands. Coach Mohamed Ouahbi will also need to consider the possible fatigue factor for players who went the full 120 minutes against the Dutch, such as Achraf Hakimi, Neil El Aynaoui and Ismael Saibari.
Quotes
Canada coach Jesse Marsch
“I don’t give a s*** what people have to say. All I care about is our own team and what we do together.”
Morocco coach Mohamed Ouahbi
“Nobody can stop us if we play the football we know how to play. But nobody is unbeatable. If we get things wrong, we'll go home.”
Head-to-head
Morocco and Canada have met in three previous matches, with the North African side boasting an unbeaten record (2 wins, 1 draw). The teams’ most famous meeting was in the last World Cup in Qatar in 2022: the Atlas Lions claimed a 2-1 win at the Al-Thumama Stadium thanks to goals from Hakim Ziyech and Youssef En-Nesyri.
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