Canada out after 3-0 loss to Morocco, Marsch defiant

Canada's historic run at the 2026 FIFA World Cup ended on Saturday, July 4, with a 3-0 defeat to Morocco in the Round of 16 in Houston. Despite the loss, head coach Jesse Marsch delivered a defiant post-match defense of his team, claiming he would rather be in Canada's position than Morocco's.

The match was scoreless at halftime, but Morocco dominated the second half with two goals from Azzedine Ounahi and a late strike from Soufiane Rahimi. The victory sends Morocco to a quarterfinal clash with France. Following the final whistle, Marsch praised his squad's aggressive style and historic achievements. He told reporters that he was incredibly proud of his players and that Canada had been the better team on the day, expressing a preference for his team's identity and future over the victors'.

The tournament marked a series of firsts for Canadian soccer under Marsch, who was appointed in May 2024. The American coach guided Canada to its first-ever World Cup knockout stage victory, a 1-0 win over South Africa in the Round of 32, after the team had secured its first World Cup point and win earlier in the group stage. This deep run surpassed the nation's previous modern-era World Cup...