Canada is set to face Morocco in the FIFA World Cup Round of 16 after Morocco secured a 3-2 victory over the Netherlands on Monday night. This upcoming match marks a significant moment for Canada in its third FIFA World Cup appearance. The game is scheduled for Saturday.
Morocco, currently ranked sixth in FIFA world rankings, advanced after a dramatic penalty shootout against the Netherlands, which is ranked seventh. Both teams entered their Monday night clash undefeated, making it the first top-10 matchup of the 2026 World Cup tournament. Midfielder Ismail Saibari scored the winning goal during the penalty kicks.
Morocco’s Historic Run and Previous Encounters
Morocco has been on a record-breaking journey, becoming the highest-scoring African nation in tournament history. They have also set a record among African teams for the most World Cup victories. Their advancement from Group C marks only the third time an African nation has reached the knockout stage of a FIFA World Cup.
In the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, Morocco finished with the same number of points as Brazil in Group C but placed second due to Brazil’s higher goal differential. The team went on to defeat Spain and Portugal in the knockout rounds before falling to France and then Croatia in the third-place game, achieving the best result for an African team in World Cup history.
Canada and Morocco last met during the group stage of the 2022 FIFA World Cup on December 1, 2022, in Doha, Qatar, where Morocco secured a 2-1 win. In that match, Morocco took an early 1-0 lead in the fourth minute after a play involving Canadian goalkeeper Milan Borgan and defender Steven Vitoria allowed Hakim Ziyech to score. Approximately 20 minutes later, Youssef En-Nesyri extended Morocco’s lead to 2-0 with a pass from captain Achraf Hakimi.
Canada found some life late in the first half when Sam Adekugbe‘s cross attempt resulted in an own goal by Morocco’s Nayef Aguerd. Canadian captain Atiba Hutchinson nearly equalized in the 71st minute, with his header hitting the crossbar, a play that a VAR check confirmed was inches from crossing the goal line. Despite controlling 59 percent of possession, Canada did not register a shot on net in that game.
Changes and Expectations for the Upcoming Match
Since their last encounter in 2022, both teams have undergone significant changes, including new managers. Jesse Marsch took over for John Herdman as Canada’s manager in May 2024, while Mohamed Ouahbi replaced Walid Regragui for Morocco earlier this year. The team rosters have also seen considerable shifts.
Morocco’s squad for this World Cup includes nine players from their 2022 semifinal run, such as Achraf Hakimi and Montreal-born goalkeeper Yassine Bounou. New additions 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 for Morocco in this World Cup, with Diaz contributing two assists. Other newcomers include Fulham defender Issa Diop, PSV Eindhoven defender Anass Salah-Eddine, and 18-year-old Lille midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi.
Canada’s 26-man roster features half of the players who participated in the 2022 World Cup. This includes defenders Alistair Johnston, Derek Cornelius, Alphonso Davies, Richie Laryea, and Joel Waterman; midfielders Stephen Eustáquio, Ismaël Koné, Tajon Buchanan, Liam Millar, and Jonathan Osorio; forwards Jonathan David and Cyle Larin; and backup goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair.
Both nations have shown improvement over the past four years. Morocco, now ranked sixth globally, won the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. Canada has risen to 30th in the world rankings and achieved a fourth-place finish at the 2024 Copa America. Canada advanced to the Round of 16 after finishing second in Pool B, which included a 6-0 victory over Qatar for their first men’s World Cup win. They also drew 1-1 with Bosnia and Herzegovina and lost 2-1 to Switzerland.
Despite Canada being seen as an underdog, Morocco manager Mohamed Ouahbi acknowledges the strength of the Canadian team. Ouahbi stated that Canada should not be underestimated, emphasizing the need for his team to rest and prepare. He also mentioned that while his team believes they are unstoppable when playing their best, no team is unbeatable. The upcoming match will be the fifth time Canada and Morocco have faced each other in men’s soccer, with previous encounters including a 3-2 loss for Canada in October 1984, a 1-1 draw in June 1994, and a 4-0 defeat in October 2016.
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Source: globalnews.ca
Ethan Brule is a Senior Hockey Writer at CasinoNews. He covered the NHL for a national Canadian outlet. He focuses on the NHL, the Maple Leafs and Team Canada and is known for clear, deadline-driven reporting. He holds a degree in Sports Media from Toronto Metropolitan University. Now based in Toronto, he plays beer-league hockey and follows the junior ranks. “Hockey in Canada is never only about the score.”
