Canada vs. Morocco: A World Cup Rematch You Won’t Want to Miss!

What’s Happening?

Get ready, soccer fans! Canada is heading to the Round of 16 at the FIFA World Cup, and they’ll be facing off against Morocco this Saturday afternoon in Houston. This is a huge deal — Canada has never made it this far in a World Cup before!

Watch the game, and every other FIFA World Cup match, LIVE on TSN, TSN.ca, and the TSN App.

How Did Morocco Get Here?

Morocco, also known as the Atlas Lions, earned their spot in a dramatic fashion. Here’s what happened:

1. The Netherlands scored first, taking a 1-0 lead late in the game.
2. Issa Diop scored a beautiful header in stoppage time (that’s the extra time added at the end of a half) to tie the game 1-1.
3. Extra time didn’t produce another goal, so the match went to a penalty shootout.
4. Morocco won the shootout 3-2, with Soufiane Rahimi, Chemsdine Talbi, and Ismael Saibari all scoring their penalty kicks.

It was a nail-biting finish, and Morocco pulled through!

How Did Canada Get Here?

Canada’s journey to the knockout stage has been exciting too! Here’s a quick recap:

• Game 1: Drew (tied) with Bosnia and Herzegovina at Toronto Stadium
• Game 2: Crushed Qatar 6-0 in Vancouver — this basically guaranteed they’d move on!
• Game 3: Lost 2-1 to Switzerland, so they finished second in Group B (not first, but still enough to advance!)
• Round of 32: Won 1-0 against South Africa thanks to a dramatic stoppage-time goal by Stephen Eustaquio on Sunday

Fun Fact: This is the first time ever that Canada has advanced past the group stage and into the knockout rounds of a World Cup!

Wait, Haven’t These Teams Played Before?

Yes! Canada and Morocco actually faced each other in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Here’s what happened back then:

• Morocco scored two early goals to take the lead
• Canada scored an own goal (that’s when a player accidentally scores on their own team’s net) near halftime
• Morocco held on to win 2-1

Morocco went on to finish in fourth place at that World Cup — an incredible achievement for an African nation!

Why Is This Matchup Interesting?

There are a few things that make this game extra special:

• Familiarity: Many of the same players from both teams played against each other in 2022, so they know each other’s strengths and weaknesses.
• Morocco’s strong record: In the preliminary stage, Morocco had two wins and one draw, earning seven points. They finished second in Group C behind Brazil based on goal differential (that’s the difference between goals scored and goals allowed).
• Rankings gap: Morocco is currently ranked 6th in the world by FIFA, while Canada sits at 30th. That means Morocco is the favorite, but as we know, anything can happen in soccer!

What the experts say: TSN Soccer Analyst Jason deVos thinks Canada’s familiarity with Morocco could actually be an advantage. He noted that many Canadian players remember what it was like to face this Moroccan team, and plenty of Morocco’s players from 2022 are still on the squad today.

Key Things to Remember

• Canada is making history by reaching the knockout stage for the first time
• Morocco is a top-10 team and a very tough opponent
• These teams have met before — Morocco won 2-1 in 2022
• The game is Saturday afternoon in Houston
• Catch it LIVE on TSN, TSN.ca, and the TSN App

Summary

Canada is set to play Morocco in the Round of 16 at the FIFA World Cup on Saturday in Houston. Morocco advanced by beating the Netherlands in a dramatic penalty shootout, while Canada earned their spot with a clutch stoppage-time win over South Africa. The two teams met in the 2022 group stage, where Morocco won 2-1. Morocco is ranked 6th in the world compared to Canada’s 30th, but Canada’s familiarity with their opponents could level the playing field. This is Canada’s first-ever appearance in a World Cup knockout round — a historic moment for Canadian soccer!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: When and where is the Canada vs. Morocco game?
A: The match takes place Saturday afternoon in Houston during the Round of 16 of the FIFA World Cup.

Q: How did Canada advance to the knockout stage?
A: Canada finished second in Group B with four points, then beat South Africa 1-0 in the Round of 32 on a stoppage-time goal by Stephen Eustaquio.

Q: How did Morocco win against the Netherlands?
A: The game ended 1-1 after Issa Diop scored a late header to equalize. Morocco then won 3-2 in a penalty shootout.

Q: Have Canada and Morocco played each other before?
A: Yes! They met in the group stage of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where Morocco won 2-1.

Q: Where can I watch the game?
A: You can watch every FIFA World Cup match LIVE on TSN, TSN.ca, and the TSN App.