06/07/2026

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Ruthless Atlas Lions Morocco break Canadian hearts to reach World Cup quarters, unbeaten in 34 matches MONDAY • 6th JULY 2026

A “PROUD” Canada became the first of the co-hosts to exit the World Cup as a clinical Morocco won 3-0 to reach the quarterfinals yesterday in Houston. The 2022 semifinalists Morocco will face title favour ites France. After a first half littered with more bookings than shots and with Canada on top, midfielder Azzedine Ounahi fired the opener on 50 min utes. Canada – playing the biggest game in their footballing history – pushed for an equaliser, but Ounahi scored his second to finally see off the resistance of Jesse Marsch’s men. Substitute Soufiane Rahimi slipped in the third with the last kick of the match. “The first half was very intense,” Morocco manager Mohamed Ouahbi told his post-match media

that goes after the game, does not play defensive. “We have to be in these situations more and more and find ways to succeed, and we have to build from that. “As good as Morocco are, I’d rather be us. I’m really proud of our guys. We went after the game and they are really hurting right now, but I couldn’t be prouder.” Canada came into the contest in uncharted territory, having won a World Cup match and then a knockout game for the first time to get to the last 16. The former Leeds United manager felt that “on another day, maybe we get the lead and maybe we get the win”. Marsch hopes the breakout tournament will be just the start for Canadian football. Asked what he said to his heartbroken play ers, he said: “First of all I told them that I was proud of them, and I challenge them to under stand that... we can play like this all the time. “Against the best teams in the world, we can be better. And then the challenge is can we hold that standard for 90 minutes? “Can we make sure that we continue to build the depth of what we’re doing with the team? Can we build that into our youth national teams? “Can we build a real Canadian DNA into the kind of football we want to play, into

gance in dismissing the Canada team.

Canada were impressive, they played a top match. “It was no surprise for us, but in the sec ond half we were able to profit from the space they left us, that was the key.” It was more than enough to take Morocco to a second successive men’s World Cup quarterfinal, progressing through five matches as they did in Qatar. Morocco have now won four World Cup knockout matches – two in 2022, two in 2026 – which is as many as all other African nations combined. One more win, and they will have officially matched their showing at the 2022 World Cup, where they became the first African nation ever to reach the semifinals. Chris Sutton BBC 5 Live pundit said: “Morocco were just not

Something was amiss with their per formance. “Morocco were never going to perform as badly in the second half. The longer the game went on, the stronger they

became. They are devas tating on the counterat tack.” The scoreline was tough on Canada, who were the better side until the opening goal in front of a crowd of 68,777 as they sought to extend what was already a historic run. Marsch said: “What a privilege our fans have had to root on a team like this –

conference. “It’s a World Cup match and these are difficult games with teams playing for their lives. “There were a few adjust ments to be made at halftime. We were never safe from pres sure. “We reacted very well in the second

at their very best, and there are tougher tests to come. They sur prised me with their lethargy at the start. I don’t know whether there was a bit of arro

half in the sec ond balls and the duels. I have to recog

the kind of infrastructure we want to have, into the kind of academies and the way we teach the game? “But in terms of the commitment of the group and making the country proud and making the programme proud, they couldn’t have done more.” For the Atlas Lions, they are not only unbeaten in this World Cup, but in their last 34 matches across all competi tions. While that record does carry an asterisk as it includes the 2026 Africa Cup of Nations final

nise that

against Senegal – a win rewarded retroactively to Morocco and being challenged in court – it is impressive never theless. – AFP/Agencies

TOP: Morocco’s Soufiane Rahimi celebrates after scoring his team’s third goal during yesterday’s last 16 match against Canada at the Houston Stadium. – AFPPIC BOTTOM: Morocco’s Azzedine Ounahi (centre) celebrates with teammates after scoring their second goal. – AFPPIC

‘Let’s go win a World Cup

France pass fiery test

p 27 Asia poor

p 28

p 29 ‘World Cup starts now’

p 30

WC showing

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