Houston will be a wall of red for Canada's co-host crowd of around 72,000, and Jesse Marsch's side have earned their moment. After a 1-1 with Bosnia, a first-ever World Cup win (6-0 over Qatar) and a narrow loss to Switzerland, they beat South Africa 1-0 on an injury-time Eustaquio volley for Canada's first-ever knockout win. Momentum and home noise are real weapons, and this is the biggest night in the program's history.

But Morocco are the highest-ranked side Canada has faced — world number seven, 2022 semifinalists, unbeaten this tournament, and fresh off holding their nerve to eliminate the Netherlands on penalties. The head-to-head is stark: four meetings, Morocco never beaten, including a 2-1 win at the 2022 World Cup. These are two organised, low-event teams, so goals will be scarce and the tie is likely to stay level deep into the night. That is exactly where Morocco's knockout composure counts. Expect a tense 1-1 after 90, with Morocco's extra-time and shootout pedigree carrying them through as Canada's dream falls agonisingly short.