The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has sent a message of encouragement to Morocco ahead of their 2026 FIFA World Cup Round of 16 match against Canada. The two sides are set to face off at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas, on Saturday, July 4, 2026, at 5 PM GMT, with English referee Michael Oliver officiating.
Morocco's Path to the Round of 16
Morocco advanced to the knockout stage after defeating the Netherlands on penalties in the Round of 32. Canada, one of the co-hosts, secured their spot by beating South Africa with a late goal. The Atlas Lions are now one of only two African nations remaining in the tournament, alongside Egypt.
The winner of this match will face either Paraguay or France in the quarter-finals on July 7, 2026.
CAF's Message of Support
CAF took to social media to express their backing for Morocco, referencing the team's historic run in the 2022 World Cup where they became the first African country to reach the semi-finals. The post read: “An unforgettable night in 2022. ? Go write the next chapter, Morocco. ??❤️.”
Morocco's goalkeeper Yassine Bounou, who was born in Canada before moving to Morocco for his football education, faces an emotional reunion with the country of his birth.
Match Predictions and Statistics
According to The Analyst, Opta's supercomputer ran 25,000 pre-game simulations, giving Morocco a 67% chance of progressing to the quarter-finals overall, with a 51.8% chance of winning in regular time. Canada has a 33% chance overall and a 21.7% chance of winning in 90 minutes. The probability of extra time was 26.5%.
In head-to-head history, Morocco has the upper hand, winning three and drawing one of their previous four meetings against Canada. During the tournament, Morocco defeated CONCACAF side Haiti 4-2, while Canada beat CAF team South Africa.
CAF's Expectations for Morocco
CAF has high expectations for Morocco, given their record-breaking performance in 2022. The African football governing body believes the Atlas Lions can inspire other African nations by advancing further in the competition. Morocco's journey continues as they aim to write another chapter in World Cup history.
