Canada will look to end their World Cup campaign on a high note when they face Morocco this Thursday at the Al Thumama Stadium.
Venue: Al Thumama Stadium (Doha)
Key Statistics
Canada are winless in five World Cup finals games.
They have scored only one goal in five FIFA World Cup appearances.
Jonathan David has lost just five of his last 22 competitive games for Canada (W13, D4), scoring ten goals in the process.
Morocco have suffered just one defeat over 90 minutes since October 2019 (W31, D8, L3).
They have not conceded a goal in six games.
Morocco are unbeaten in nine games (W5, D4).
World Cup trivia: Clocked at just 67 seconds, Alphonso Davies’ strike for Canada against Croatia is the fastest goal of Qatar 2022 so far, although it fails to make the all-time top ten fastest goals at World Cup tournaments, in a list headed by Hakan Şükür at 11 seconds.
Head to head
Morocco have beaten Canada twice in their last three meetings (D1).
Latest performances in all competitions
Canada: L-L-W-D-L
Morocco: W-D-W-D-W
Canada
Despite scoring their first goal in the World Cup last time, Canada could still not get the win they needed, as they were eventually beaten 4-1 by Croatia.
In a history-making outing at the Khalifa International Stadium, Alphonso Davies opened the scoring for John Herdman’s men with 67 seconds in the clock. His goal was Canada’s first goal in the World Cup finals after five tries and was also the fastest goal scored in the World Cup this year.
The result sealed their elimination from the group stages, so they come into this tie knowing that this fixture has little significance to their World Cup hopes.
However, head coach John Herdman has urged his boys to make more history in their remaining game of Qatar 2022.
With no pressure on them to win, the Maple Leafs will look to win this game to avoid a repeat of their only other finals appearance in Mexico in 1986, when they went home winless. The coach is also challenging his players to show they are “heading in the right direction”, given that they are the joint hosts of the next World Cup tournament in 2026.
Possible Canada starting lineup
Milan Borjan, Alistair Johnston, Steven Vitoria, Kamal Miller, Richmond Laryea, Jonathan Osorio, Atiba Hutchinson, Alphonso Davies, Taejon Buchanan, Jonathan David, Cyle Larin.
Injured: None
Doubtful: None
Suspended: None
Morocco
Morocco come into this game in a good mood, having beaten FIFA’s number two team Belgium in their last outing.
The Atlas Lions opened their campaign with a goalless draw against Croatia before recording a 2-0 win over Roberto Martinez’s Red Devils last time out.
Four points from their first two games mean they have one foot in the next round, only needing a draw to progress to the round of 16.
They will come into this tie full of belief that they can get the needed result. Walid Regragui’s side, chasing their own little bit of history, have kept clean sheets in their opening two games, meaning they could emulate the 1986 Morocco team, who were the last African side to concede fewer than two goals in the World Cup group stages.
That 1986 tournament was also the only occasion when Morocco reached the knock-out stages of a World Cup. They could even finish top of Group F if they win here and Croatia fails to beat Belgium.
Regragui is warning his players they “haven’t accomplished anything yet” as they look to extend a remarkable run of form, which has seen Morocco suffer just one defeat over 90 minutes since October 2019 (W31, D8, L3).
Possible Morocco starting lineup
Yassine Bounou, Achraf Hakimi, Nayef Aguerd, Romain Saiss, Noussair Mazraoui, Azzedine Ounahi, Sofyan Amrabat, Selim Amallah, Hakim Ziyech, Youssef En-Nesyri, Sofiane Boufal.
Injured: None
Doubtful: None
Suspended: None
Odds
| Canada to win | Draw | Morocco to win | |
| Odds | 3.50 | 3.40 | 2.10 |
| Probability (%) | 27 | 28 | 45 |
Prediction
Canada 0-2 Morocco
Live Stream
For details, FIFA Qatar World Cup 2022 – TV Broadcast / Live Stream
