Azzedine Ounahi's brace powered Morocco to a 3-0 victory over Canada in Houston, eliminating the co-hosts and securing their spot in the last eight. The midfielder opened the scoring in the 50th minute after a first-half injury to striker Ismael Saibari, then doubled the lead late before Soufiane Rahimi completed the scoring in stoppage time.

Morocco's achievement carries extra weight given their historic breakthrough at Qatar 2022, where they became the first African nation to reach a World Cup quarter-final. Despite losing Saibari early, the Atlas Lions controlled play after the break, with goalkeeper Yassine Bounou keeping Canada at bay during their brighter opening period. The match featured more yellow cards (8) than shots on target (7), reflecting the physical nature of the contest.

The win sets up a quarter-final clash with either France or Paraguay, potentially offering Morocco a chance to avenge their semi-final loss to France in Qatar. Canada's run as co-hosts ends disappointingly, though they pushed Morocco harder than many expected before the floodgates opened.

Morocco have now proven they belong among World Cup contenders, advancing through different styles of play and showing resilience across multiple venues. Their blend of tactical discipline and individual quality makes them dangerous opponents regardless of location or conditions.