There is no shame in Canada losing to Morocco at the FIFA World Cup 2026. The “Atlas Lions” are truly one of the top sides in the world; their No. 6 ranking might not do them justice. In the end, the 3-0 scoreline looked worse than it was, but it was still a Round of 16 chance wasted, no matter the competition.

Canada vs. Morocco first 45

Canada dominated the first 45 minutes, putting Morocco on their back feet with a relentless onslaught that yielded 13 touches in the opposition box, five corners and a Grade A (albeit missed) chance for striker Tani Oluwaseyi. Morocco didn’t have a shot until nearly the 28th minute or a touch in Canada’s box until the 44th. Their xG at the conclusion of the half was just 0.02.

On the defensive side of the ball, the Canadians forced the Moroccans to the left side as often as possible. There they flooded the Moroccan back line players with a “trigger press” to force them into uncomfortable passes out of trouble and the occasional giveaway. 

To say Morocco were on the back feet would be an understatement. They looked frustrated, making late tackles and taking four yellow cards. But there were also encouraging signs. 

Morocco did have a wide possession advantage, typical of a side passing out of their final third more often than not. But when they did put the ball forward, they proved dangerous with long balls over the top. None turned into scoring chances, but did give the feeling of a sleeping giant.

Canada vs. Morocco second 45

The script flipped in the second half. Quickly. Morocco on their front feet; Canada on their heels. It started with a renewed sense of urgency from the African side, highlighted by a more aggressive press on the ball. Rather than opting for the dark arts, they stayed upright and pushed.

Then off a Luc de Fougerolles yellow card chasing — and taking — down Soufiane Rahimi on the right wing, Morocco’s first goal came. Star full-back Achraf Hakimi stepped up for the free kick to the right of the Canada goal. With multiple Moroccan players streaking through the crease, he tucked it back outside the 18-yard box to Azzedine Ounahi who was full value for a low strike to the right corner. It was a cheeky play Canada clearly weren’t ready for. 1-0 Morocco.

From there, Canada were chasing and Morocco had their confidence. The pace increased immediately. The match opened up with play going back and forth. With Canada pressing, the tension was palpable. A goal either way could prove decisive. And it did. 

In the 81st minute, a clean giveaway by Jacob Shaffelburg down the right side was quickly turned into an odd-man break and goal No. 2 for Ounahi. The match was over. A third Moroccan goal through Soufiane Rahimi in the 98th minute added salt to the wound, but meant nothing

Canada vs. Morocco full match statistics

EXPECTED GOALSCAN 0.84MAR 0.82
POSSESSIONCAN 45%MAR 55%
TOTAL SHOTSCAN 10MAR 5
TOUCHES IN OPP. BOXCAN 33MAR 9
CORNERSCAN 11MAR 1
SHOTS IN BOXCAN 6MAR 2

“I think we showed that in this tournament that we can win big games,” manager Jesse Marsch said in his post-match press conference. “Since I’ve been here, we won big games at Copa América. … Before the tournament, if we would have said round of 16, I think we would have been pretty satisfied. Before today, if you would have said your team’s going to play like that, I would have said, okay, there’s a good chance we’re going to win the match.”

Where was Alphonso Davies?

On the bench but not fit to play. As it’s been for the national team for all but a quarter of an hour since the 2024 Copa America. After tantalizing Canada fans with 15 minutes of impactful play at the end of the South Africa match, there was hope Davies could play 30 or even 45 against Morocco. But, no.

“He didn’t feel right yesterday in training, and we got an MRI, and it was clear, so the good news was that there was no injury. But his hamstring didn’t feel right, and we were hoping that by the time he woke up that he would feel better,” Marsch said.

“But he didn’t, and so we wanted to be cautious and make sure that we weren’t risking anything, and obviously at the 60th minute when it’s one-nil would have been great to have him in the match, or even at halftime. 

“He wanted to play so bad; he went and tried to get going himself at halftime, and he said he just wasn’t right. So, we didn’t want to risk it.”

And there it is. The best Canadian player in history wasn’t fit at the worst possible time. He surely would have added a dimension Canada sorely missed after the opening goal. 

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Why Canada lost

Morocco are a real threat to win the 2026 World Cup. They’ve risen 16 spots in the FIFA rankings since entering the World Cup in Qatar four years ago, where they finished fourth. They just might crack a spot in FIFA Top 5 in the next week or so with a quarterfinal win.

But Canada was right there with Morocco the entire match. Even after falling behind, the result was still in question as “Les Rouges” pressed for the equalizer. It Wild West football. 

Both sides were dangerous, but only one was clinical. And that is why Canada lost this match, and arguably why they were a second-place team in the group stage. Jonathan David scored three World Cup goals, but all came in one match against a depleted Qatar. Cyle Larin scored two, but none in the final three matches (albeit as a substitute). Stephen Eustáquio’s lone goal lit a country on fire but he’s a facilitator, and Promise David and Nathan Saliba contributed one each.

That’s eight goals in five matches (plus an own goal by Qatar), including five in one; so three in four matches. That’s not enough. Period.

David plays in Ligue 1, Larin in England’s Championship, Promise in Belgium, Eustáquio in Portugal, and the list goes on. All great players for sure, but no one in Canada’s roster is a world-class goalscorer. Not that they’re easy to come by, but they do feature on every top team. You don’t even have to listen to Marsch between the lines, he says it.

And that’s it, that’s the answer. Canada doesn’t score enough. They’re a scrappy side with up-and-coming defenders, an over-achieving midfield, a perfectly fine goalkeeper, and forwards with potential, but few — or at least not enough — goals in them. They need a true striker.

With that player, Canada have a chance to make real noise. Maybe they don’t tie Bosnia and Herzegovina. Maybe they beat a cautious Switzerland side. And maybe they put up a goal during a dominating first half Saturday and Morocco have to chase.

And maybe they’re in the World Cup quarterfinals.

It’s not yet Canada’s time, but it might not be as far off as some might think. This World Cup could inspire a Canadian Mbappé or Kane or Vinícius Júnior or Dembélé. Because Canada has proven itself a football nation, on the pitch and off. And that’s where everything begins. 

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Feature image courtesy AP Photo/Ashley Landis via Canadian Press Images.
Stats courtesy via fotmob.com and FIFA.com. 
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