Canada vs Morocco: World Cup Round of 16: Saibari, prediction, schedule | World Cup 2026 News
Canada Faces Morocco in Historic World Cup Match
HOUSTON, Texas — The Round of 16 in the FIFA World Cup 2026 kicks off Saturday as co-host Canada meets Morocco in a highly anticipated match at Houston Stadium. The contest begins at noon local time (5 p.m. GMT).
This match marks a significant milestone for Canadian football. It is the first time the men’s national team has advanced to this stage of the tournament, following a dramatic 1-0 victory over South Africa in the previous round.
Canada enters the match after finishing second in Group B with four points, highlighted by a victory over Qatar and a draw against Bosnia and Herzegovina, though they fell to Switzerland in the final group match. Their historic progression into the last-16 was secured with the win over South Africa.
Morocco, on the other hand, reached this stage as a strong contender. They finished second in Group C with seven points, achieving victories against Scotland and Haiti, and securing a draw against Brazil. Their last match was a thrilling encounter against the Netherlands, which Morocco won in a penalty shootout after a late equalizer.
The Moroccan team, known for their resilience, is unbeaten thus far in the tournament and aims for another deep run, having reached the semifinals in the previous edition of the World Cup. Moroccan manager Mohamed Ouahbi acknowledges the high stakes, stating, “If we get things wrong, we’ll go home. We need to ensure that we have all the tools and we’re using them effectively to advance as far as we can.”
Canada coach Jesse Marsch expressed the challenges his team faces, likening the task of preparing for Morocco to “a gory, horrible nightmare.” He emphasized the team’s aspirations and resilience despite being considered underdogs, ranked 24 places lower than Morocco in the FIFA standings.
Morocco’s key player, Ismael Saibari, leads as the team’s top scorer and has garnered attention after his decisive penalty kick that secured their advancement.
Match Details:
- Teams: Canada vs. Morocco
- Date: Saturday, July 4
- Time: 12:00 p.m. CDT (17:00 GMT)
- Location: Houston Stadium, Texas
- Broadcast: In Canada, the match will be available on RDS, TSN, and Crave. In the U.S., viewers can watch on FOX, Telemundo, and Peacock. Moroccan fans can tune in on beIN SPORTS.
As the teams prepare for the match, predictions indicate a 52.7 percent chance of a Moroccan victory in regulation time, while Canada has a 21.7 percent probability. The likelihood of the match extending to extra time stands at 25.6 percent.
Historical Context:
Historically, Canada and Morocco have faced each other four times, with Morocco winning three matches and one resulting in a draw. Their most recent encounter ended in a 2-1 victory for Morocco during the group stage of the 2022 World Cup.
Team Updates:
Canada will be without Ismael Kone, who is sidelined with a broken ankle. Alphonso Davies may see increased involvement after making his first appearance of the tournament as a substitute in the last match. No injuries have been reported from the Moroccan squad.
Predicted Lineups:
- Canada (4-4-2): Crepeau; Johnston, Bombito, Cornelius, Laryea; Buchanan, Saliba, Eustaquio, Millar; Oluwaseyi, David
- Morocco (4-2-3-1): Bono; Hakimi, Diop, Riad, Mazraoui; Bouaddi, El Aynaoui; Diaz, Ounahi, El Khannouss, Saibari
The winner of this match will advance to the quarterfinals, facing either France or Paraguay on Thursday in Boston.