After Netherlands.. Atlas Lions face Canada's historic surprise

Fresh from their dramatic penalty shootout victory over the Netherlands, Morocco face a buoyant Canada on July 4 at NRG Stadium in Houston, in what promises to be one of the most compelling Round of 16 ties of the 2026 World Cup.

Morocco: battle-hardened and focused

Yassine Bounou has been outstanding between the posts, and captain Achraf Hakimi continues to be one of the most dynamic defenders in the tournament. Teenage sensation Ayyoub Bouaddi, 18, has caught the eye of Europe's biggest clubs with performances well beyond his years. Morocco are disciplined, dangerous on the counter, and have the mentality to go deep in a tournament.

Canada: making history

This is uncharted territory for Canada — their first-ever Round of 16 at a World Cup. Coach Jesse Marsch has forged a resilient team that believes anything is possible. Alphonso Davies is the most dangerous weapon on the flank, with Jonathan David always a threat in the box. Stephen Eustáquio's last-gasp winner against South Africa summed up their spirit perfectly.

History favours Morocco

Morocco beat Canada 2-1 at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, and the head-to-head record strongly favours the Atlas Lions. Experience at the highest level gives Morocco an edge, but Canada have shown they cannot be taken lightly.

Kick-off: July 4, 1pm ET

The match takes place on Saturday, July 4 at 1:00pm ET (7pm Morocco time) at NRG Stadium, Houston, Texas.