Morocco eliminated tournament co-hosts Canada from the 2026 FIFA World Cup with a 3-0 victory in the Round of 16. The match featured a tense physical confrontation before Azzedine Ounahi scored twice in the second half to secure the win. Soufiane Rahimi added a stoppage-time goal in the 98th minute.
The intensity spiked near the Canadian penalty area just before halftime. Morocco’s captain Achraf Hakimi shoved Canada defender Richie Laryea while contesting a loose ball. The two players engaged in a face-to-face exchange. The incident forced referee Michael Oliver to step between them and restore order. Both men received yellow cards in the 40th minute as a direct result.
Speaking to TSN following the game, Laryea explained his reaction. “I got there first and he shoves me. I wanted to defend myself, my country, and my teammates,” Laryea said. “He is one of the best, if not the best, at his position, and it was important to let him know we were not going to let them walk all over us.” Laryea ultimately framed the scuffle as two fierce competitors fighting for their respective countries.
Morocco is the first team to advance to the 2026 quarterfinals. They have now secured back-to-back tournament runs into the final eight. For Canada, the defeat ends their most successful World Cup campaign in national history and their first ever appearance in the knockout stage. Head coach Jesse Marsch backed his squad’s aggressive physical playstyle despite the exit. “I’d rather be us than them, as good as Morocco is,” Marsch stated. “I couldn’t be prouder.”