Canada and Morocco both are making history in 2026 FIFA World Cupbut one team’s story will end on Saturday.
The Canadian team is set to face its highest-ranked opponent so far in the tournament, looking to keep its World Cup dreams alive as the competition narrows to the remaining 16 teams.
Morocco, currently sixth in the FIFA world rankings and currently on a 33-match winning streak, has broken many records this tournament, becoming the highest-scoring African nation in the tournament’s history and setting a record among African teams for most World Cup wins with eight.
Their advancement from Group C was also the third time an African nation has reached the knockout stages of a FIFA World Cup.
Canada and Morocco last faced each other during the group stage of the 2022 FIFA World Cup on 1 December 2022, as Morocco won 2–1 in Doha, Qatar.
Canada’s forward Tajon Buchanan (11) tries to make a pass during World Cup Group F first half soccer action against Morocco at Al Thumama Stadium in Doha, Qatar on December 1, 2022.
THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette
Canadian coach Jesse Marsch has tipped his hat to Morocco’s performance so far, saying before Canada’s training session on Wednesday that the build-up to the match has been “like a nightmare”.
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“It’s like, I don’t want to watch them play. They’re too good,” he said.
However, Marsch doesn’t believe that underdog Canadians should be counted out.
“We want to be here and we expect to be here,” Marsch added. “So we know everyone is going to write us off and that’s a possibility. But at the end of the day, we’re focused on trying to really be our best for this game and give the best performance of our lives, and that might give us a chance.”
After Morocco’s win over the Netherlands on Monday night, coach Mohamed Ouahbi said “Canada will be a tough opponent for us.”
“We have to rest, we have to come back fresh. We have to tell ourselves: ‘No one is going to stop us.’
Canada’s Alphonso Davies got his first taste of this year’s tournament in Canada’s Round of 32 match against South Africa, coming off the bench for the final 15 minutes and sparking an immediate change of pace that led to Canada’s winning goal. Marsch is yet to confirm Davies’ role in Saturday’s game.
Canada are also set to wear their all-black jerseys, which they have been undefeated in when worn on tour.
Kickoff is set for 1:00 PM Eastern.
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