Morocco starting lineup vs Canada: Mohamend Ouahbi’s XI for the round of 16 game
The Atlas Lions are looking strong and have their hearts set on a quarter final matchup against the winners of Paraguay versus France. Canada stand in the way.
After making it to the semi-finals the last time around, Morocco hope to go one better in this current edition of the World Cup - their seventh appearance at the tournament.
Mohamed Ouahbi‘s team were crowned African champions at the start of the year and since then, have not lost a match in nine outings - including the four games they have played so far in this World Cup. So confidence is sky high among a group of players who have forged a strong connection on the pitch.
Morocco usually favor a 4-2-3-1 set-up with Bayern striker Ismael Saibari leading the line in attack. A prolific goal scorer, he found the net in all three of the group stage games and is currently the team’s top scorer in the competition.
Up to now Saibari has been a starter but he isn’t the only option in attack - Morocco have brought six forwards along with them - Soufiane Rahimi, Ayoub El Kaabi, Gessime Yassine and Chemsdine Talbi have all been given minutes.
Ouahbi has more or less stuck with the same line-up since the team’s opener against Brazil - only making minor to rest his players. The back four has remained practically unchanged with Anass Salah-Eddine replacing first-choice Noussair Mazraoui at left-back against Haiti.
No fitness issues going into the game. Chadi Riad was taken off as a precaution in the Netherlands game after taking a knock but is available again.
Morocco have one of the cleanest disciplinary records at the World Cup with just one player going into the book. Center-back Issa Diop was handed a yellow card in the group stage and in the last round against the Netherlands. He will have to tread carefully this evening and if Morocco make it to the quarter-finals as another booking will trigger a one-match ban.
Morocco’s confirmed starting XI against Canada at World Cup 2026
Bounou; Mazraoui, Halhal, Diop, Hakimi (c); Bouaddi, El Aynaoui; El Khannouss, Ounahi, Díaz; Saibari.
Today’s game will be played at NRG Stadium in Houston with kick-off scheduled for 1 p.m. ET.
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