Canada to face Morocco in World Cup Round of 16 after dramatic win

By Noah Lavoie — 30 June 2026 — 4 min read

Canada prepares for Morocco in Round of 16

The Canadian men’s national team is set to play Morocco in the Round of 16 at the World Cup. This upcoming match on Saturday marks the second consecutive World Cup where these two nations will face each other. Morocco secured their spot by defeating the Netherlands in a penalty shootout on Monday, following a 1-1 tie after 120 minutes of play in Guadalupe, Mexico.

During the match against the Netherlands, Cody Gakpo initially gave the Netherlands a 1-0 lead in the 73rd minute. However, Issa Diop equalized the score at 1-all in the first minute of second-half stoppage time. The game then proceeded to penalty kicks after two scoreless 15-minute halves, with Ismael Saibari scoring the decisive goal for Morocco.

Canada advanced to this stage with a 1-0 victory over South Africa in a Round of 32 game held on Sunday in Los Angeles. This achievement marks Canada‘s first appearance in a World Cup knockout game. The team finished second in Pool B, which included a 6-0 win against Qatar, a 1-1 draw with Bosnia and Herzegovina, and a 2-1 loss to Switzerland. Morocco was the runner-up in Pool C, having drawn with Brazil, defeated Scotland 1-0, and won against Haiti 4-2.

Past encounters and team changes

The two teams previously met in the group stage of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. In that match, Morocco defeated Canada 2-1. Morocco, then ranked 22nd, took an early lead with goals from Hakim Ziyech in the fourth minute and Youssef En-Nesyri. Canada scored an own goal late in the first half when Nayef Aguerd inadvertently put the ball into his own net.

Despite the loss, Canada maintained 59 percent of possession but did not register a shot on net. Morocco went on to have a historic run in the 2022 World Cup, defeating Spain and Portugal in the knockout rounds before falling to France 2-0 in the semifinal and Croatia 2-1 in the third-place game, marking the best result for an African team in World Cup history.

Beyond the 2022 World Cup, Canada and Morocco have played three prior friendly matches. Canada lost 3-2 in October 1984, drew 1-1 in June 1994, and suffered a 4-0 defeat in October 2016.

Significant changes have occurred for both teams since 2022. Canada‘s former manager, John Herdman, was replaced by Jesse Marsch in May 2024. Morocco also has a new manager, Mohamed Ouahbi, who took over from Walid Regragui earlier this year.

Roster evolution and current form

The rosters for both teams have also seen considerable changes. Morocco brings back nine players from their 2022 World Cup semifinal squad, including captain Achraf Hakimi and goalkeeper Yassine Bounou. New additions to Morocco‘s squad include Real Madrid forward Brahim Diaz and PSV Eindhoven attacking midfielder Ismael Saibari, both of whom have family ties to Morocco. Saibari has scored three goals in this year’s World Cup, and Diaz has contributed two assists. Other newcomers include Fulham defender Issa Diop, PSV Eindhoven defender Anass Salah-Eddine, and Lille midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi.

Canada‘s 26-man roster includes half of the players from the 2022 World Cup. Returning players feature defenders Alistair Johnston, Derek Cornelius, Alphonso Davies, Richie Laryea, and Joel Waterman; midfielders Stephen Eustáquio, Tajon Buchanan, Liam Millar, and Jonathan Osorio; forwards Jonathan David and Cyle Larin; and backup goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair. Midfielder Ismaël Koné is currently injured.

Both teams have shown improvement over the last four years. Morocco, now ranked sixth globally, won the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations by defeating Senegal. Canada has risen to 30th in the world rankings and achieved a fourth-place finish at the 2024 Copa America. Morocco manager Mohamed Ouahbi acknowledges the challenge Canada presents, stating that the team should not be underestimated despite perceptions that the match might be easy.

The winner of Saturday’s match in Houston could potentially face France in the quarter-finals.

Source: tsn.ca