Morocco Storm Into World Cup Quarter-Finals as Ounahi Brace Sinks Canada; England, Brazil Brace for Last-16 Tests

By Emmanuel Kwada

Morocco continued their impressive FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign on Saturday with a commanding 3-0 victory over Canada, securing a place in the quarter-finals and keeping Africa’s hopes alive on football’s biggest stage.

The Atlas Lions produced a clinical display, led by midfielder Azzedine Ounahi, who scored twice to inspire the North Africans to a comfortable win. The result sends Morocco into the last eight and reinforces their growing reputation as one of the tournament’s most formidable sides.

Azzedine Ounahi named man of the match.

Ounahi’s outstanding performance was complemented by the creativity of Brahim Díaz, who continued his remarkable tournament by providing two more assists, taking his tally to four and cementing his status as one of Morocco’s key attacking threats.

Captain Achraf Hakimi also played a crucial role, contributing an assist and increasing his direct goal involvement to three in five World Cup appearances. His leadership, pace, and attacking influence have been instrumental in Morocco’s impressive run.

The victory sparked celebrations among Moroccan supporters, who watched their team dominate proceedings and secure a deserved place among the tournament’s elite eight. With confidence growing and key players hitting top form, Morocco now stands as one of the strongest contenders remaining in the competition.

Elsewhere, France booked their own quarter-final berth after edging past a resilient Paraguay side 1-0 in a tightly contested encounter.

Klyne Mbappe

The narrow victory was enough to send Les Bleus through, with the reigning European giants once again relying on the brilliance of Kylian Mbappé. The French captain continues to rewrite football history, with his latest appearance taking him to an astonishing 19 goals in 19 FIFA World Cup matches.

The milestone further strengthens Mbappé’s position among the greatest World Cup goalscorers of all time, with the forward once again proving decisive when it matters most.

With Morocco and France safely through to the quarter-finals, attention now turns to Sunday’s highly anticipated Round of 16 clashes, where two more places in the last eight will be decided.

One of the standout fixtures will see England face hosts Mexico at the iconic Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. The encounter has generated enormous excitement, with England seeking to end a 60-year wait for a major international trophy while Mexico aim to capitalize on home advantage and continue their impressive unbeaten run.

England reached the knockout stage after a hard-fought 2-1 victory over the Democratic Republic of Congo, thanks to a late brace from captain Harry Kane. However, Thomas Tuchel’s side has yet to fully convince critics, with defensive vulnerabilities and inconsistent performances raising concerns.

Adding to England’s challenge is the high altitude of the Estadio Azteca, a factor Tuchel admitted could affect his team’s performance.

Mexico, meanwhile, enter the contest brimming with confidence after winning all four of their matches on home soil without conceding a single goal. Their recent 2-0 victory over Ecuador secured their first World Cup knockout-stage win in four decades and has heightened expectations among home supporters.

The winner of the England-Mexico showdown will advance to a quarter-final meeting against either Brazil or Norway.

That fixture promises another fascinating contest as five-time world champions Brazil prepare to take on a Norway side inspired by the prolific form of Erling Haaland.

The Manchester City striker has emerged as one of the stars of the tournament, scoring five goals in just three appearances and spearheading Norway’s impressive run to the knockout stages.

England’s forward #09 Harry Kane celebrates with England’s German head coach Thomas Tuchel after winning the 2026 World Cup round of 32 match football between England and the Democratic Republic of Congo at the Atlanta Stadium in Atlanta on July 1, 2026. (Photo by ROBERTO SCHMIDT/AFP)

Brazil manager Carlo Ancelotti remains confident his experienced defenders can contain the Norwegian forward, noting that several members of his squad have faced Haaland regularly at club level.

Norway coach Stale Solbakken, however, believes his side has every reason to be confident despite Brazil’s illustrious pedigree. He has urged his players to focus on executing their game plan rather than being overwhelmed by the occasion.

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