Canada’s national soccer team was eliminated from the 2026 FIFA World Cup after a 3-0 defeat to Morocco in the round of 16 on Saturday in Houston. Despite the loss, Canadian head coach Jesse Marsch expressed pride in his team’s performance and competitive spirit against the African champions.

Morocco scored all three goals in the second half, with midfielder Azzedine Ounahi netting two and Soufiane Rahimi adding a late goal in stoppage time. The Canadian side had shown promise in the first half, outshooting Morocco 10 to five, but struggled to capitalize on their chances and were ultimately undone by Morocco’s efficiency on the counterattack.

Marsch highlighted his team’s overall play, saying Canada was the better side on the field despite the scoreline. “We were the better team, right? It was just, they have a little bit of quality in the final third, and we lacked a little ability to make a play when we needed to,” he said. He also emphasized the tactical approach and team mentality, praising the players for believing in themselves and executing the game plan to challenge a top-ranked opponent.

“I’m really proud of our guys. We went after the game,” Marsch added. “They’re hurting right now, but my goodness I couldn’t be prouder.” He concluded with a confident remark, underscoring his pride in his squad despite the exit: “As good as Morocco is, I’d rather be us, right?”

Morocco’s victory halted Canada’s historic run in the tournament, but the Canadian team’s spirited first-half showing and overall competitive performance have been noted as positive signs for the nation’s soccer program moving forward. The Moroccan team will advance to the quarterfinals, seeking to build on their success in the knockout stage.