Morocco extended their remarkable World Cup journey with a clinical 3-0 victory over co-hosts Canada, reaching the quarter-finals despite producing a performance built on resilience rather than flair.
The North African side managed just five shots throughout the match, the fewest by a winning team in a World Cup knockout fixture on record.
The opening half also entered the history books after producing more yellow cards than shots, highlighting a fiercely contested and physical encounter.
Morocco weathered Canada’s early pressure as goalkeeper Bono denied Jonathan David and Tani Oluwaseyi before the Atlas Lions gradually tightened their grip.
Canada created the better chances during the opening 15 minutes, while Morocco failed to register a touch inside the opposition penalty area during that spell.
Once Morocco settled, they transformed discipline into dominance, controlling the match with defensive organisation and ruthless efficiency in front of goal.
The victory extended Morocco’s unbeaten run to 34 matches across all competitions, further strengthening their credentials as genuine World Cup contenders.
That streak includes the 2026 Africa Cup of Nations final against Senegal, a result later awarded to Morocco retroactively and currently facing a legal challenge.
Morocco have not suffered defeat since a 1-0 loss to Kenya in the African Nations Championship in August 2025, a competition featuring only players from domestic African leagues.
Their latest triumph reinforced a growing reputation for finding victories in difficult circumstances, proving they can succeed even when style gives way to substance.
Canada manager Jesse Marsch acknowledged Morocco’s resilience after the match, saying, “They were bending a little bit but they didn’t break.”