Best of Canada vs Morocco, FIFA World Cup 2026 round of 16: Rahimi adds third as Morocco reach quarter-finals – The Tech Word News

The knockout rounds of the 2026 FIFA World Cup move into the round of 16 with another compelling contest as co-hosts Canada take on Morocco at the Houston Stadium (NRG Stadium) in Texas on Saturday. With a place in the quarter-finals, both nations are just one win away from reaching the round of 16, although they will arrive there on very different footballing paths.

Canada is enjoying the best World Cup campaign in the country’s history. Jesse Marsch, who had never progressed from the group stage before, led Les Rouges into the knockout stages before seeing off another historic milestone in the round of 32. Stephen Eustaquio’s dramatic 92nd-minute winner secured a 1-0 victory over South Africa, sending the hosts into the last 16 and keeping alive hopes of a memorable run on home soil.

Canada started the tournament by finishing second in Group B with four points. A remarkable 6-0 win over Qatar showcased their attacking quality before a 1-1 draw against Bosnia and Herzegovina and a narrow 2-1 defeat of Switzerland ensured qualification. Marsch has built a side capable of pressing aggressively while remaining compact without possession and his players have repeatedly embraced the pressure of performing in front of the home fans. Acknowledging outside expectations before the game, the Canadian manager said: “We know everyone is going to write us off and this is an opportunity.”

Morocco enter the competition with significantly more World Cup pedigree. After becoming the first African and Arab nation to reach the semi-finals of the World Cup in Qatar four years ago, the Atlas Lions again showed why they are considered the strongest defensive teams in the tournament. Mohamed Ouahbi’s side progressed unbeaten from Group C after victories over Scotland and Haiti, along with an impressive 1-1 draw against Brazil.

Their victory in the round of 32 was equally dramatic. Morocco recovered from Cody Gakpo’s second-half opener before Issa Diop headed home a stoppage-time equalizer in the 91st minute against the Netherlands, eventually winning 3-2 on penalties as Ismael Saibari converted the winner.

The tactical battle promises an interesting contrast. Canada will once again rely on the pace of Alphonse Davies, who returns to full fitness after an injury scare, alongside Jonathan David and the tireless Tani Oluwaseyi, while Eustaquio continues to dictate play in midfield despite the absence of Ismaël Koné with a broken ankle. Morocco counter with one of the tournament’s strongest defensive backs, led by goalkeeper Yassin “Bono” Bouna, Achraf Hakimi and Bayern Munich forward Ismael Saibari, whose three tournament goals underline his growing influence.

History strongly favors Morocco. The Atlas Lions are unbeaten in their four previous matches with Canada, winning three and drawing once, including a 2-1 victory during the 2022 World Cup group stage. Statistical models also favor the African side, with supercomputer Opta giving Morocco a 51.8% chance of winning in regulation compared to Canada’s 21.7%. Still, playoff football rarely follows predictions. With the winner in Boston facing a quarter-final against France or Paraguay, both nations know that one performance could redefine their footballing history.