Morocco end Canada's run and France grind past Paraguay to set up a quarter-final

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Morocco ended Canada's historic run with a 3-0 win in the round of 16 in Houston, becoming the first side to eliminate one of the co-hosts. Azzedine Ounahi scored twice after the break and substitute Soufiane Rahimi added a late third, with Brahim Díaz setting up the opener for what Al Jazeera reported was a record fourth World Cup assist by an African player, as Morocco reached the quarter-finals.

France joined them in the last eight, but only just, edging Paraguay 1-0 through a second-half Kylian Mbappé penalty in a bruising tie in Philadelphia. According to Al Jazeera, it was the French captain's seventh goal of the tournament and set up a quarter-final against Morocco.

That result confirmed a France–Morocco meeting in the last eight, pitting the tournament's form attack against a Moroccan side that has now knocked out the Netherlands and Canada in the knockouts.

Transfer and squad notes

Mbappé's penalty was his 19th career World Cup goal, leaving him one behind Lionel Messi's all-time record of 20, while the pair are level on seven goals apiece in this tournament's Golden Boot race, with Mbappé reported to lead on assists, per AP.

Canada's exit brought the curtain down on the best World Cup campaign in their history, a run that included their first World Cup win and first knockout victory before Morocco proved too strong, according to CBC.

What it means for the league

The round of 16 opened with a marquee quarter-final taking shape, France against Morocco, and the tournament's two standout individual stories — Mbappé and, from afar, Messi — converging in the Golden Boot race. Morocco's progress continues one of the competition's strongest showings, while Canada's departure removes the last co-host from the knockouts. The last 16 resumes on July 5 with heavyweight ties including Brazil against Norway and Spain against Portugal.