Two matches. Two very different stories. Morocco were dominant, clinical, and occasionally ruthless — the Atlas Lions are into the Quarter-Finals in a performance that justified every ounce of belief they have brought to this tournament. France were uncomfortable, frustrated, and not at their best — yet still won. The Round of 16 is delivering.
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Morocco 3–0 Canada — Ounahi’s Night, Brahim’s Brilliance
Canada pressed relentlessly in the opening half-hour and had nothing to show for it. Yassine Bounou saved from Jonathan David. Bounou denied Tani Oluwaseyi. Morocco lost Ismael Saibari to a hamstring injury in the 22nd minute — their leading scorer, gone before the half was done. At half-time, Canada were the better side on chances.
Then came the 48th minute, and the moment this match will be remembered for. Azzedine Ounahi had been booked and had just escaped a second yellow for a foul on Ali Ahmed. Two minutes later, Achraf Hakimi slid a disguised low pass backwards from a free-kick, and Ounahi curled a precise side-footed finish into the far bottom-left corner. 1–0. The man who could have been off the pitch had just put Morocco in front.
In the 82nd minute, Brahim Díaz drove from the right flank, cut inside, and laid off perfectly to Ounahi within the box — a powerful finish into the roof of the net. 2–0. Jonathan David’s free-kick in the 75th minute — Canada’s best chance — sailed over the crossbar. Soufiane Rahimi added a third in stoppage time as Canada pushed forward desperately. 3–0. Morocco are in the Quarter-Finals, and showing they belong among the last eight in this tournament.
France 1–0 Paraguay — One Penalty, One Goalkeeper Who Deserved More
France could not create any real chances. That is the honest summary of their evening in Philadelphia. Over 75% possession in the first half, zero shots on target. Paraguay’s 5-4-1 block was a tactical masterpiece. All French attempts were blocked before they reached the goalkeeper; every line of space was closed down. Mbappé missed a rare heading chance in the 31st minute. The half-time shoving match between Mbappé and Andrés Cubas told you the temperature of the match, in every sense — 38 degrees on the pitch and rising.
The breakthrough came from the bench. Substitute Désiré Doué, on with fresh legs and sharpness, drove into the Paraguayan box in the 69th minute, drew a foul from Diego Gómez after brilliant footwork, and the referee pointed to the spot after a VAR review. Mbappé stepped up and slotted it into the bottom-right corner. 1–0. His seventh goal of the tournament.
Then came the match’s most dramatic moment — and it produced no goal. In the 90 + 7th minute of stoppage time, Doué played Mbappé through. His driven strike was saved by Gill diving sharply to his right. The rebound fell back to Mbappé. He drilled it at the near post. Gill recovered — somehow — and blocked the second attempt. A double save that would have been the moment of the tournament resulted in a tournament in a different result. France held on. Paraguay went home having given the world champions everything they had.
The Quarter-Finals Are Taking Shape
Morocco are through. France are through. The matches which were expected to be one-sided turned out to be extremely competitive. Canada completely broke Morocco’s possession game. The frustration was real. Morocco’s first goal came from a set piece, and then Canada had to put more players high on the pitch, which allowed Morocco to score two more during transition. France were also held at bay by Paraguay, which nobody had expected. The penalty changed the game’s outlook. Otherwise, we would have had another match which would have been decided in the tiebreakers. The FIFA World Cup 2026™ is being delivered.
Norway takes on Brazil. USA plays Belgium. The quarter-final bracket is building. Every match from here is a final for someone.
Mbappé has on 7 goals. The Golden Boot race just shifted again.
Every Quarter-Final qualifier is live on ZEE 5 — India’s official home of FIFA World Cup 2026™. The best football of the tournament starts now.
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