World Cup 2026: Football Fever to Sweep through Houston

Canada vs Morocco

Houston is set to stage its seventh and final match at this World Cup 2026 on Saturday and, with a place in the quarter-finals at stake, the match-up between Canada and Morocco has a distinct appeal.

For these two attractive footballing sides are here on merit at a time traditional heavyweights such as Germany, Holland and Uruguay have already arrived back home.

Weekend World Cup 2026 highlights await as fans start to dream.

 

Talking Points

Let’s start with north west Africa’s finest who secured a dramatic last 32 victory over Holland in Monterrey on Monday night to book their place.

Issa Diop was Morocco’s saviour because, while they were the better team for spells, they trailed to a Cody Gakpo goal until Diop – now operating as a striker – headed home in stoppage time from Chemsdine Taldi’s deep cross.

After no further score during extra-time, five of the 10 spot-kicks were missed, with Morocco holding their nerve to win 3-2 in the shoot-out.

The Fulham man certainly played a decisive role for the Atlas Lions with a display which confirmed his growing influence since choosing to represent Morocco earlier this year.

The 29 year-old defender has actually improved with every passing match during the tournament. After solid performances against Brazil and Scotland in the group stage, Diop produced his best display against the Dutch, winning aerial duels and organizing Morocco’s back line with authority,

Manager Mohamed Ouahbi praised the defender’s leadership, professionalism, and calm presence within the squad and he was named man of the match.

Diop could now come up against his Fulham teammate Luc De Fougerolles after Canada edged out South Africa with a last-gasp moment of their own from Stephen Eustaquio.

A side which narrowly missed out on a bronze medal in last year’s Copa America, their adventure on the biggest stage of all this summer has included a first ever World Cup win (in the group stages v Qatar), as well as reaching the knockout stages of the tournament for the first time in their history.

Houston, though, is a level up again and the biggest test in their national team history.

While Canada have elevated themselves, they are still staring upwards at Morocco, especially with Alphonso Davies not fully match fit and Ismael Kone, their most creative midfielder, out of the World Cup following a devastating broken leg.

Cast your mind back to 2022 when plenty of pundits and fans suspected Morocco had reached their high watermark with a group-stage victory over Belgium.

Yet, they continued to raise the bar, squeezing the life out of Spain before progressing from the last 16 on penalties and they were similarly obdurate and dangerous on the counter-attack when winning their quarter-final against Portugal.

So far this summer, they have held Brazil in their opener before knocking out Holland on penalties.

They aren’t ranked the sixth best international team in the world without good reason and they will start as clear favourites.

 

History

The nations have locked horns four times and it’s pretty one-sided with Morocco winning three of the clashes and the other ending all square.

Most recently, they met in the group stages of the 2022 World Cup when two goals inside the opening 23 minutes, from Hakim Ziyech and Youssef En-Nesyri, set them on their way to a 2-1 win. Canada’s reply came via an own goal.

All the other encounters between the sides have been friendlies, beginning in October 1984 when the Atlas Lions won by the odd goal in five.

They then locked horns a decade later, a 1-1 draw in the June of that year, before a 4-0 Morocco friendly success in Marakech in 2016.

On that occasion the marksmen were Mehdi Carcela-González, Ziyech (with two penalties) and Rachid Alioui.

 

Betting Tip

Semi-finalists last time out and now conquerors of Holland, no wonder the SBOTOP World Cup 2026 betting odds back Ouahbi and his players.

With 1X2, they can be backed @ 1.83 compared to Canada @ 4.49.

With Asian Handicap, odds include -0.75 @ 2.12 in contrast to Canada +0.25 @ 2.47.

A draw after 90 minutes will pay out @ 3.40.

While I don’t think this will be a one-sided encounter, a repeat of their only previous competitive meeting to date, in Qatar in 2022, is worth considering with Correct Score 1-2 up for grabs @ 8.20.

For teams who can attack with panache and pace, you may want to take a closer look at over 2.50 @ 2.28 and total goal 4-6 @ 4.10.

Half Time Full Time Draw Away also caught my eye @ 4.91.

   

●●●

CHECK OUT OUR BLOG FOR MORE FOOTBALL STORIES & ODDS

Stay updated with everything sports and betting.

Follow us on social Facebook, X and Instagram.