Canada ousted from World Cup with 3-0 loss to Morocco
Posted July 4, 2026 12:50 pm.
Last Updated July 4, 2026 6:14 pm.
Canada is out of the FIFA World Cup after falling 3-0 to Morocco in the round of 16 on Saturday.
Azzedine Ounahi broke a 0-0 deadlock in the 50th minute, then added a second goal in the 82nd for a brace. Soufiane Rahimi converted a rolling shot in the eighth minute of stoppage time to seal the score.
Canada controlled the game early and registered four chances in the first half, but couldn’t get a shot past Morocco’s Montreal-born keeper Yassine Bounou.
The Moroccans will meet the winner of a round-of-16 tilt between Paraguay and France in a quarterfinal matchup in Boston on July 9.
Morocco was the higher-ranked nation, entering the tournament sitting at No. 7 in FIFA’s official standings while Canada was No. 30.
The result ends a historic run in which the national squad nabbed its first point and first win in the men’s tournament and earned a spot in the knockout round for the first time.
Canada head coach Jesse Marsch once again switched up his starting lineup, bringing midfielder Niko Sigur in for his first-ever World Cup start. He also opted for defenders Moïse Bombito and Luc de Fougerolles, and brought midfielder Ali Ahmed into the initial 11. Midfielders Nathan Saliba and Liam Millar, and defender Derek Cornelius started on the bench.
Canada controlled play through much of the opening 25 minutes, keeping Morocco hemmed in its own end and getting several solid scoring opportunities.
The first came just five minutes in when vice-captain Stephen Eustaquio sent a corner swinging in toward the Morocco goal, only to see Bounou punch the ball away.
The keeper, known as Bono, came up big again five minutes later, stopping a strike from Tani Oluwaseyi just above the six-yard box.
Morocco’s lone chance of the first half came in the 27th minute when midfielder Soufiane Rahimi launched a shot from distance and Canada’s Maxime Crépeau dove to stop the rolling shot.
There was pushing and shoving in the 39th minute when Achraf Hakimi body-checked Richie Laryea, sending the Canadian defender to the turf. Laryea confronted Hakimi and a scrum ensued, with both Laryea and Hakimi coming out with yellow cards.
Referee Michael Oliver gave six cautions across the first half, with four going to Moroccan players and two to Canadians.
The Atlas Lions held 56 per cent possession across the first half, but it was Les Rouges who had the chances. Canada outshot Morocco 4-1 and held a 2-1 edge in on-target shots.
Morocco came into the second half as the aggressors and took the lead in the 50th minute after de Fougerolles was booked for a bad tackle.
Hakimi lined up for the free kick at the side of the penalty area and sent the ball to Ounahi, stationed at the top. The midfielder got a right-footed shot off, sailing the ball through traffic and into the net to give Morocco a 1-0 advantage.
Canada had a prime opportunity to equalize in the 77th minute with a free kick from just above the area, but Jonathan David sent his shot well over Morocco’s net.
A giveaway in Moroccan territory turned deadly for the Canadians in the 82nd minute.
Striker Brahim Diaz carried the ball up the field, then sliced it to Ounahi inside the area. The midfielder wasted no time blasting a shot off to give the Atlas Lions a 2-0 lead.
Rahimi came within inches of making it 3-0 three minutes later, but his unimpeded shot went off the crossbar.
He instead rolled a low shot in past Crepeau in the eighth minute of stoppage time to seal the score.
Marsch made several second-half substitutions in an apparent bid to juice the offence, bringing Cyle Larin in for Oluwaseyi in the 63rd minute, then replacing Laryea with Jacob Shaffelburg and Ali Ahmed with Promise David in the 79th.
His final substitutions of the day saw Jayden Nelson and Jonathan Osorio enter for Tajon Buchanan and Sigur.
Marsch did not bring on Canada captain Alphonso Davies, who saw action in just one game across the tournament, coming on in the 74th minute of the country’s victory over South Africa.
Davies, who picked up a hamstring injury playing in a Champions League semifinal for Bayern Munich in early May, says a lingering hamstring injury kept him out of Canada’s final game.
He told reporters after the game that he “felt a little bit of something” in training earlier in the week and decided not to play because he knew he wouldn’t be at his best.
Marsch added that Davies underwent an MRI on Friday that came back clear, but Davies still didn’t feel right when he woke up Saturday morning.
Davies says it was “mentally tough” to not be on the field but he looked for other ways to support his teammates instead.
Fans proud despite Canada’s World Cup exit
Despite the loss, fans gathered in Montreal said Canada’s run at the FIFA World Cup gave them plenty to celebrate, with many already looking ahead to the next tournament.
“We were definitely rooting for Canada today,” said one supporter from the Netherlands, who was cheering for Canada after Morocco knocked her home country out of the tournament. “It’s a shame to see that they lost.”
Her friend summed up the mood in just a few words.
“Hard to watch. Definitely. Hard to watch.”
Thomas Mickoski, who travelled from Innisfil, Ont., to spend some time in Montreal with friends, admitted the defeat was disappointing but said Canada’s tournament exceeded expectations.
“It’s a little bit disappointing,” he said. “Our expectations weren’t at this level to start. But once you start doing well, I think your expectations raised a little bit.”
Mickoski believes the match could have unfolded differently if Canada had capitalized on an early scoring chance.
“I think taking a chance early changes the game completely,” he said. “Once you concede to a country as good as Morocco, we’re in trouble.”
Still, he said Canada’s overall performance deserves praise.
“If I look at the whole tournament as a whole, I think we did very, very well.”
Having previously been part of Canada’s national team, Mickoski said the team’s success struck an emotional chord.
“It’s emotional sometimes,” he said. “I remember being there, hand on heart, singing the anthem… It’s heartwarming to see Canada come here, and I’m hoping, you know, next World Cup, whatever comes next, we keep going up.”
Another supporter from Germany said he admired the way Canadians embraced their national team throughout the tournament.
“Obviously, I think it’s a bummer for Canada,” he said. “I wish they would have won, but obviously Morocco’s a tough opponent. I think they gave up a fight in the first half. It was a bit unlucky in the second half, but it was so great to see everybody around, and hopefully they’ll continue as a nation and grow as a soccer country.”
He added that Canada had few obvious shortcomings.
“They could have maybe penetrated the box a bit more, but you have to get lucky in those decisive moments, but I think they did as good as they could have.”
One Montreal fan said the better team won but believes Canadians should still be proud.
“We played well, but obviously we didn’t deserve to win,” he said. “We should be proud to be Canadians.”
He added that he wished captain Alphonso Davies had been able to play a bigger role.
“Alphonso Davies should have played. I know he was injured… but honestly, we just didn’t play as well as them.”
Several fans also highlighted the unique Montreal connection between Canada’s Maxime Crépeau and Morocco’s Yassine Bounou, who were both born in the city.
“It’s a great representation,” one supporter said. “It makes us proud to live in the city. It’s a great city. And the fact that we have two keepers in the World Cup, honestly, it’s just a blessing. It’s an honour.”
Another fan echoed that sentiment.
“It feels great,” he said. “Montrealers, Canadians, we’re emerging on the bigger stages. A lot of other nationalities that were born here are playing for other teams, so hopefully we’ll see more of that in the coming World Cups.”
He focused on Canada’s progress rather than the result.
“Tough loss, honestly. They had a good run, but ultimately they came up short.”
He said the difference came down to quality on the day.
“Honestly, I think there was a gap in quality. Unfortunately, the Moroccans were really good today, but hopefully we’ll take it home next time.”
Another fan said Canada’s performance in the first half showed how far the program has come.
“I think Canada had a great run,” she said. “They had definitely outplayed them in the first half. Could have come out stronger in the second, but they should be proud of how they played.”
She said Morocco was always going to be a difficult opponent.
“I think Morocco is always going to be a tough team, and I think we still played a really good game… but it was fun to watch, for sure.”
The loss also reminded her of Canada’s defeat to Morocco at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
“I was kind of thinking the exact same thing,” she said. “This just happened four years ago. So, you know, 2030. Let’s go on to the next, I guess. But yeah, it was fun, fun while it lasted.”
While another fan said, “It was a tough loss. I really had hope going into it, but I think they played good. Morocco’s a good team, but obviously we still wanted Canada to do well, but it’s okay. Next World Cup.”
