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Tag: WORLD CUP

  • Morocco Thrash Canada 3-0 to Reach the Quarterfinals: First African Nation to Do It Twice in a Row

    Morocco Thrash Canada 3-0 to Reach the Quarterfinals: First African Nation to Do It Twice in a Row

    A Ounahi brace and a late Rahimi strike send the Atlas Lions through, as the first of the three host nations bows out. Morocco now await the winner of France vs. Paraguay.

    HOUSTON — Morocco continue to write history for African football at the World Cup. In the match that opened the Round of 16, the Atlas Lions thrashed Canada 3-0, sending the first of the tournament’s three host nations home and reaching the quarterfinals for the second consecutive edition — a feat no African nation had ever achieved before.

    A tight first half, then the second-half explosion

    At Houston Stadium, in front of a packed crowd celebrating the Fourth of July, Jesse Marsch’s Canada came out with intent: Jonathan David and Oluwaseyi both tested the Moroccan defense early on, only to find a sharp Bounou standing in their way. The first half ended goalless, with Canada running hard and staying organized without consistently threatening, while Morocco looked short of their usual sharpness.

    Everything changed after the break. In the 50th minute came the breakthrough: from a set-piece move orchestrated by captain Hakimi, Azzedine Ounahi controlled and finished with a precise strike that beat Crépeau. From there, Morocco grew in confidence and began to punish Canada on the counterattack.

    Ounahi’s show, then Rahimi seals it

    The second goal also came from Ounahi’s boot: in the 82nd minute, off a lightning-quick counter started by Brahim Diaz, the former Marseille midfielder found himself one-on-one with the Canadian goalkeeper and made no mistake, completing his brace. Canada tried to respond through David and Buchanan but lacked precision. Morocco came close to a third when Rahimi struck the crossbar in the 85th minute, before finally getting their goal in second-half stoppage time: a clinical counterattack finished off by the striker, who had come on at the start of the second half for an injured Saibari.

    A record-breaking qualification

    With this win, Morocco reach the World Cup quarterfinals for the second straight edition, becoming the first African nation in history to do so more than once. It’s further proof of a side that eliminated the Netherlands on penalties in the Round of 32 after a 1-1 draw in regulation, and one of the most solid teams of the tournament, conceding just 8.3 shots per game on average.

    For Canada, the run ends here — though it’s still a historic achievement for the co-hosts, who had reached the Round of 16 for the first time in their history after beating South Africa in the previous round thanks to Eustaquio’s 92nd-minute winner.

    Next up: the winner of France vs. Paraguay

    Morocco now await the result of France vs. Paraguay, played later the same evening in Philadelphia, to learn their quarterfinal opponent on July 9. A ruthless and mature side, Morocco converted three of their five shots on target into goals.

    Canada (4-4-2): Crepeau; Johnston, Bombito, De Fougerolles, Laryea; Buchanan, Sigur, Eustaquio, Ahmed (Promise David); J. David, Oluwaseyi. Coach: Marsch.

    Morocco (4-2-3-1): Bounou; Hakimi, Diop, Halhal, Mazraoui; Bouaddi, El Aynaoui; Brahim Diaz, Ounahi, El Khannouss; Saibari (Rahimi). Coach: Ouahbi.

  • Switzerland Cruise Past Algeria 2-0 to Reach World Cup 2026 Round of 16

    Switzerland Cruise Past Algeria 2-0 to Reach World Cup 2026 Round of 16

    Switzerland beat Algeria 2-0 in a dominant Round of 32 performance at BC Place in Vancouver, controlling the match from start to finish at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

    Switzerland took the lead as early as the 10th minute through Breel Embolo, who tapped in a precise assist from Johan Manzambi after the winger drove into the box from the left and squared the ball across goal. The Swiss doubled their advantage right at the start of the second half, in the 46th minute, when Dan Ndoye pounced on a loose ball from the Algerian defence and fired a clinical finish into the corner.

    Algeria tried to respond through Chaibi and Aouar but lacked the precision in front of goal to get back into the match. With a two-goal cushion, Switzerland comfortably controlled possession and the tempo of the game until the final whistle, conceding very little.

    Among the standout performers were Manzambi, who provided the assist and was a constant threat down the flank, Denis Zakaria, dominant both defensively and in build-up play, and Embolo, once again decisive in front of goal.

    The win — Switzerland’s third in a row at the tournament — sends them through to the Round of 16, where they will face the winner of Argentina vs Cape Verde on July 7, also in Vancouver.

  • Portugal Come From Behind to Beat Croatia 2-1, Set Up Round of 16 Clash with Spain

    Portugal Come From Behind to Beat Croatia 2-1, Set Up Round of 16 Clash with Spain

    Portugal came from behind to beat Croatia 2-1 in a dramatic Round of 32 clash at Toronto Stadium at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

    Croatia took the lead in the 52nd minute through a close-range finish from Ivan Perisic, who has now scored at every World Cup since 2014. Portugal equalized in the 67th minute through a Cristiano Ronaldo penalty, awarded after a foul by Vlasic on Renato Veiga — CR7’s first-ever goal in a World Cup knockout match, making him the oldest scorer in the competition’s knockout stage history.

    The winning goal came deep into stoppage time, in the 94th minute, when Goncalo Ramos — Milan’s new signing — rose above the Croatian defence to head home a cross from Rafael Leao. The drama didn’t end there: in the 104th minute, a Gvardiol goal that would have made it 2-2 was ruled out by VAR for offside, after a touch by Matanovic in the build-up was spotted on review.

    The night carried emotional weight beyond the result: Ronaldo led his teammates to salute the Portuguese fans wearing Diogo Jota’s number 21 shirt, in tribute to the late teammate. For Luka Modric, it may have marked the end of his World Cup career.

    Portugal will now face Spain in the Round of 16.