Canada’s path at the World Cup is getting rockier.

Canada will face Morocco in the Round of 16 on Saturday after the Atlas Lions defeated the Netherlands 3-2 on penalty kicks Monday following a 1-1 draw in Guadalupe, Mexico.

Cody Gakpo gave the Netherlands a 1-0 lead in the 73rd minute, but Issa Diop tied the match at 1-all one minute into second-half stoppage time. After two scoreless 15-minute halves, the match was decided in penalty kicks.

Ismael Saibari scored the decisive goal in the penalty shootout, and Morocco sent the Netherlands to its earliest World Cup exit.

The challenge will be a significant step up for No. 30 Canada.

Morocco entered the tournament ranked No. 7 in the world, making the Atlas Lions the highest-ranked opponent Canada has faced at the 2026 World Cup.

Canada’s previous highest-ranked opponent was No. 19 Switzerland, which defeated the Canadians 2-1 in the group stage in Vancouver. Canada advanced to the Round of 16 with a 1-0 win over No. 60 South Africa on Sunday in Los Angeles.

It will mark the second straight World Cup featuring a showdown between Canada and Morocco.

The Atlas Lions defeated Canada 2-1 in their final group-stage game at the 2022 tournament in Qatar before making a run to the semifinals.

Both teams have changed considerably since then. Canada has 13 players back from its 2022 squad, while Morocco has eight.

There will also be a Canadian connection in Morocco’s lineup.

Star goalkeeper Yassine Bounou, better known as Bono, was born in Montreal before moving to Morocco as a child.

Bounou had an opportunity to represent Canada. Former national team coach Benito Floro contacted him about wearing the Maple Leaf.

“I grew up in Morocco,” Bounou said in a 2022 interview.

He added that he had come through Morocco’s youth system and dreamt of playing for the Moroccan national team.

“For me, representing my national team was something I had very deep inside,” he said.

He was Morocco’s starting goalkeeper during the Atlas Lions’ historic run to the 2022 semifinals, which included the win over Canada.

Bounou came up big Monday, batting away Crysencio Summerville’s penalty with his left hand in the shootout before Ismael Saibari converted the winning kick to send Morocco into the Round of 16.

It will only get tougher for the winner of the match Saturday afternoon in Houston, with possible quarterfinal opponents including tournament favourite France.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 29, 2026.