Morocco’s performance in a World Cup is no longer a surprise, but the norm. The North African team, whose greatest achievement until recently was reaching the round of 16 at Mexico ’86 , has made it to the knockout stages for the second consecutive time. After their impressive run in the 2022 tournament, where they reached the semifinals after defeating teams like Spain and Portugal, the Moroccan team has reaffirmed in this 2026 World Cup that their project is serious and has a solid foundation.
Moroccan coach Mohamed Ouahbi has managed to maintain the team’s competitive spirit, which recently saw them overcome a thrilling Round of 32 match against the Netherlands. The Dutch surprised from the outset with a more solid defense, forcing Morocco to adapt and ultimately prevail in the penalty shootout.
Ouahbi acknowledged the tactical difficulties of the match in a press conference: «They surprised us with their defense; we had to make adjustments because there was little space. We weren’t clear on their style of play; we had to adapt. We’ll analyze our attack, but they had a great goalkeeper and we went out to win, not to compare chances with goals.»
The Bono phenomenon
The hero in that penalty shootout was, once again, Yassine Bono . The 35-year-old goalkeeper stopped a crucial shot from Summerville, displaying great skill by making a decisive save.
The Moroccan goalkeeper’s penalty statistics are impressive: although he has only saved 9 of 56 shots in regulation time, his performance in penalties is exceptional, with 10 saves in the seven shootouts he has played as a professional.
For the former Sevilla player, today’s match in Houston marks a return to his roots, as he was born in Montreal in 1991. His father, a university physics professor, took the family to Canada for eight years. However, his true childhood and passion for football were forged upon returning to Casablanca. Bono shared that his beginnings as a goalkeeper were not glamorous: «I learned on a parking lot slope, drawing a goal on the wall and using trash cans.»
His talent at Wydad caught the eye of Atlético Madrid in 2012. Starting out in their reserve team in Segunda B wasn’t easy, especially with stars like Courtois and Oblak in the first team. During that time, Canada tried to convince him to play for them, with then-manager Benito Floro offering him a starting position.
However, Bono was clear about his desire: «I’m from Morocco and I grew up there. I always dreamed of representing the national team .» After spells at Zaragoza and Girona, Sevilla signed him for four million euros , a low investment for a goalkeeper who won the Zamora Trophy, the Europa League, and finished third in The Best FIFA Men’s Player awards and the Yashin Trophy.
Brahim’s decision
Another standout name on this team is Brahim Díaz . The Real Madrid forward has become Morocco’s attacking focal point after a journey filled with challenges and difficult decisions.
One of the most talked-about topics in Spain was his choice between playing for Morocco or Spain. His grandmother Puri recently stated: «He is the son of his father and mother, he could choose either . «
Finally, he chose Morocco due to the inaction of the Spanish Federation, which did not present him with a clear project or show any real interest in having him on board.
His first major tournament with Morocco ended in a nightmare. In the Africa Cup of Nations final, Brahim missed a crucial penalty that cost the team the title, although they were later awarded it administratively.
The match against Canada
Morocco has had a very good tournament to reach the round of 16. In the group stage, they started with a 1-1 draw against Brazil, won by a narrow margin against Scotland, and thrashed Haiti 4-2, before the thrilling penalty shootout match against the Netherlands.
One of the team’s biggest revelations is Ismael Saibari. The Barcelona-born player scored three goals in the group stage, which convinced Bayern Munich to secure his signing.
On the opposing bench, American Jesse Marsch, former Leeds United manager, leads a competitive Canada side, albeit one hampered by injuries. They have had to face the tournament without their star player, Bayern Munich full-back Alphonso Davies , who suffered a relapse of an existing injury.
Although there’s a small chance he’ll return for the next match in Houston, his lack of match fitness is a major disadvantage. Furthermore, Marsch will be without midfielder Ismael Koné, who fractured his leg in a group stage match against Qatar.
Despite some setbacks, Canada has had a good tournament. They accumulated four points in the group stage, drawing 1-1 with Bosnia and Herzegovina, losing 2-1 to Switzerland in a meaningless match, and thrashing Qatar 6-0 with a hat-trick from their striker, Jonathan David.
In the round of 32, they managed to advance in a tactical encounter against South Africa, thanks to a goal in stoppage time by Stephen Eustáquio, a Porto midfielder trained in Portugal.
Ouahbi has warned that Canada will demand their best: «We need to recover and play our best football . «
