Canada’s magical World Cup run hinges on slaying one of modern game’s giants

After Canada’s men beat South Africa to head to their first Round of 16, they celebrated as though they had won the World Cup itself. 

Ismaël Koné, who suffered a horrific broken leg in the group stage against Qatar, tossed aside his crutches and somehow danced in the dressing room, Tani Oluwaseyi and Promise David dancing beside him.

Not long after, Koné’s teammates poured through the mixed zone, talking to reporters about how happy and excited they were to be moving on. Koné skipped it, instead slowly making his way through the bowels of Los Angeles Stadium to Canada’s bus.

One instant he was dancing, fuelled by joy and adrenaline. The next, he was hobbled again, the rhythmic sound of his crutches on the cement floor mimicking the ticking of a clock. The dressing room was the dream. The tunnel was a reminder of the less happy reality.

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The Canadians flew to Houston on Monday, uncertain of their opponent on July 4. They learned late Monday night that it will be fearsome Morocco, the sixth-ranked team in the world and one of the modern game’s giants.

The Atlas Lions advanced after coming back to draw the Netherlands in their Round of 32 matchup, before dispatching the Dutch on penalties in one of the most agonizing shootouts imaginable. It was a shame that two titanic teams had to meet so early in the tournament, separated by such fine margins: the width of a post, the ricochet of a spinning ball.

But the Moroccans — World Cup semifinalists in 2022, finalists at the Africa Cup of Nations in 2025 — prevailed, deservedly, and they will look to end