In Houston, co-hosts Canada and Morocco met in the Round of 16 of the FIFA World Cup 2026 in what was expected to be a showcase for a talented Moroccan side building on their historic 2022 semifinal run. Instead, it turned into a tense, goalless affair — at least through the first half.
The story of the match early on was heartbreak for Morocco. Star forward Ismaël Saïbari, the team’s top scorer in the tournament, went down without contact in the opening minutes, clutching the back of his leg. He was helped off the pitch in tears, a potentially devastating blow for the Atlas Lions’ ambitions. As Spiegel noted, “Favorit Marokko tut sich gegen Kanada sehr schwer” — favorite Morocco was struggling badly against Canada, barely creating chances.
The Guardian framed the stakes plainly: the winner would face either Paraguay or France in the quarterfinals — though after Argentina’s narrow escape against Cape Verde the night before, no one was taking anything for granted.