Morocco just became the first team to punch its ticket to the 2026 FIFA World Cup quarterfinals, dismantling Canada 3-0 on July 4. Now the Atlas Lions are staring down a potential rematch with France, the team that ended their fairy-tale run four years ago.

What happened on the pitch

Azzedine Ounahi was the story. The midfielder netted twice against Canada, orchestrating a performance that sent the host nation packing far earlier than anyone expected.

Morocco’s 3-0 victory was comprehensive, not a squeaker. Canada, playing on home soil as one of the tournament’s co-hosts, exits with the kind of disappointment that tends to linger.

For Morocco, this is a continuation of something that started in Qatar in 2022. That year, they became the first African nation to reach a World Cup semifinal, captivating a global audience before falling 2-0 to France.

The quarterfinal opponent depends on how France handles Paraguay in their round-of-16 match, which was scheduled for the same day.

The rematch narrative

If France advances past Paraguay, the quarterfinal becomes one of the most emotionally charged matches of the tournament. Morocco’s 2022 semifinal loss to France wasn’t just a game. It was a cultural moment for African and Arab football, watched by hundreds of millions.

France, for their part, remain perennial contenders. They won the World Cup in 2018, reached the final in 2022, and carry the kind of squad depth that makes them dangerous in any knockout format.