Morocco defeated host nation Canada 3‑0 in the round of 16 held at Houston’s NRG Stadium. Goals came from Azzedine Ounahi (twice) and Soufiane Rahimi, sending the Atlas Lions to the quarter‑finals where they will meet the winner of the Paraguay‑France match. The win also made Morocco the first African side to reach the World Cup quarter‑finals twice.
In the earlier round of 32, Colombia eliminated Ghana 1‑0 at Kansas City Stadium. Jhon Arias scored in the 14th minute after a Luis Suárez cross. The victory puts Colombia into the round of 16 against Switzerland and ends Ghana’s campaign, leaving only Morocco and Egypt as the remaining African representatives.
Both matches were part of the FIFA World Cup 2026 knockout stage, marking the tournament’s first round of 32 and the opening round‑of‑16 fixtures. The outcomes affect the quarter‑final line‑up and the remaining African hopes in the competition.