PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Fireworks crackled and jets roared ahead of the France-Paraguay World Cup game in Philadelphia on Saturday as fans celebrated the double joy of soccer's biggest tournament on home soil and the 250th anniversary of American independence in the nation's birthplace.
A pregame show celebrating the city's history included Tony Award winner Idina Menzel singing “The Star-Spangled Banner” a star-shaped stage. The Philadelphia-formed hip-hop band The Roots also performed, backed by dancers, including a “Lady Liberty” draped in a monumental gown, and fireworks in red, white and blue. The Philadelphia Boys Choir & Chorale then sang an a cappella rendition of “America the Beautiful.”
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A banner commemorating the 250 years since the founding of the United States is seen before the World Cup round of 16 soccer match between Canada and Morocco in Houston, Saturday, July 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Eric Smith
Fireworks explode over the stadium during a pregame ceremony before the World Cup round of 16 soccer match between Paraguay and France in Philadelphia, Saturday, July 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
Planes fly over the stadium during a pregame ceremony before the World Cup round of 16 soccer match between Paraguay and France in Philadelphia, Saturday, July 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
Idina Menzel sings the "Star-Spangled Banner", the United States' national anthem, before the World Cup round of 16 soccer match between Paraguay and France in Philadelphia, Saturday, July 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Derik Hamilton)
Idina Menzel sings the U.S. national anthem ahead of the World Cup round of 16 soccer between Paraguay and France match in Philadelphia, Saturday, July 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Fans clad in the wavy, flag-inspired stripes of the U.S. national team chanted “USA!” next to France and Paraguay supporters — all of them in the red, white and blue colors of the flags of all three countries. Their chants in the sweltering afternoon heat were only muffled by the roar of a flyover of VFA-11 and VFA-81 squadrons from Naval Air Station Oceana in Virginia Beach, Virginia. On the field, banners were unfurled to reveal words from the Declaration of Independence, which was adopted by the Continental Congress in Philadelphia on July 4, 1776.
America’s 250th birthday was also celebrated in Houston, where Morocco beat Canada earlier Saturday in the World Cup Round of 16. About 45 minutes before the game, video boards featured a message from astronauts aboard the International Space Station wishing fans a happy July Fourth.
Later, a circular banner with the number 250 and stars and stripes printed on it was unfurled at midfield as “America the Beautiful” played. “The Star-Spangled Banner” was then performed before the banner was removed so that the flags of Canada and Morocco could be placed on the field for their national anthems.
AP Sports Writer Kristie Rieken in Houston contributed to this report.
See more of AP’s World Cup coverage here
A banner commemorating the 250 years since the founding of the United States is seen before the World Cup round of 16 soccer match between Canada and Morocco in Houston, Saturday, July 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Eric Smith
Fireworks explode over the stadium during a pregame ceremony before the World Cup round of 16 soccer match between Paraguay and France in Philadelphia, Saturday, July 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
Planes fly over the stadium during a pregame ceremony before the World Cup round of 16 soccer match between Paraguay and France in Philadelphia, Saturday, July 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
Idina Menzel sings the "Star-Spangled Banner", the United States' national anthem, before the World Cup round of 16 soccer match between Paraguay and France in Philadelphia, Saturday, July 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Derik Hamilton)
Idina Menzel sings the U.S. national anthem ahead of the World Cup round of 16 soccer between Paraguay and France match in Philadelphia, Saturday, July 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
HOUSTON (AP) — Morocco is heading back to the quarterfinals and coach Mohamed Ouahbi believes his team has established itself among soccer's elite.
Azzedine Ounahi scored twice to lead Morocco to a 3-0 win over Canada in the World Cup round of 16 Saturday to make the country the first African nation to reach the quarterfinals more than once.
“We are no longer a surprise,” Ouahbi said through a translator. “Now when people talk about Morocco we’re a major contender and it’s a great source of pride. I think it’s only the beginning and I hope we continue to have runs like this.”
And despite already making history in this World Cup, Morocco has much higher goals.
“We want to keep going,” Ouahbi said. “We don’t want to stop.”
It’s Morocco’s second straight appearance in the round of eight after becoming the first African team to reach the semifinals in 2022.
“We are so proud to represent Africa because it’s a continent with a lot of talent and Africa deserves to be in the best level in football,” Morocco goalkeeper Yassine Bounou said.
Neither team was able to break through until Ounahi took a free kick from Achraf Hakimi and made a right-footed shot through traffic from outside the box to the bottom right corner to put Morocco on top 1-0 in the 50th minute.
Ounahi made it 2-0 on a right-footed shot from the middle of the box off a pass from Brahim Díaz in the 82nd minute.
Soufiane Rahimi added a goal in the final minute of stoppage time.
Morocco advances to face the winner of Saturday’s Paraguay-France match on Thursday at Boston Stadium.
The loss ends a historic run for World Cup co-host Canada, which won its first-ever knockout round with a 1-0 victory over South Africa to reach Saturday’s match. The country was playing in the World Cup for just the third time and the run enchanted a nation that is normally far more interested in hockey than the pitch.
Canada coach Jesse Marsch shared his postgame message to the team.
“I told them that I was proud of them and I challenged them to understand that we can play like this all the time against the best teams in the world,” he said. “We can be better on the day. And then the challenge is, can we hold that standard for 90 minutes?”
Morocco, which is ranked sixth in the FIFA rankings, dispatched the Netherlands in a penalty shootout to reach the round of 16 and send the country to its earliest World Cup exit.
Though Marsch mistakenly said Morocco is ranked one spot lower than it is, he lauded how his team performed against a squad of its caliber and of how Canada controlled the match for much of the day.
“The way we pushed, the way we were in the match, the quality we showed, the overall impact in the match, we were better,” he said. “We were better than the No. 7 team in the world today.”
Ouahbi had a strong response when told of those comments.
“In terms of intensity they were good,” he said. “They were good for 98 minutes. Were they better? It’s hard to say. It takes some nerve to say that when you lose 3-nil.”
Canada had a couple of chances to score late. Jonathan David had a free kick from outside the box in the 78th minute, but his shot sailed over the crossbar.
Just after that Tajon Buchanan’s shot from about 30 yards was stopped with a diving save from Bounou. Bounou, who was born in Canada to Moroccan parents, had three saves to help Morocco to the win.
Canada reached the round of 16 despite missing star Alphonso Davies for the majority of the tournament because of a hamstring injury. The Bayern Munich player logged only 15 minutes as a substitute in the victory over South Africa but wasn't available Saturday.
“His hamstring didn’t feel right,” Marsch said. “We were hoping that by the time he woke up this morning that he would feel better, but he didn’t.”
This game was a rematch from the last World Cup when Morocco beat Canada 2-1 in the group stage in a tournament in which Morocco finished fourth.
It was an extremely physical match with eight yellow cards being issued. Both teams received four.
Hakimi and Canada’s Richie Laryea received yellow cards in the 40th minute. Hakimi shoved Laryea to the ground and then Laryea pushed him and a minor scuffle ensued.
Morocco midfielder Ismael Saibari left with an injury in the 22nd minute.
See more of AP’s World Cup coverage here
Canada's Stephen Eustaquio (7) reacts after the World Cup round of 16 soccer match between Canada and Morocco in Houston, Saturday, July 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Morocco's Azzedine Ounahi is thrown in the air by his teammates after the World Cup round of 16 soccer match against Canada in Houston, Saturday, July 4, 2026. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Morocco's Azzedine Ounahi (8) scores second goalduring the World Cup round of 16 soccer match between Canada and Morocco in Houston, Saturday, July 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Eric Smith
Morocco's Azzedine Ounahi (8) scores their second goal past Canada goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau (16) during the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between Colombia and Ghana in Kansas City, Mo., Saturday, July 4, 2026. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Morocco's Azzedine Ounahi (8), celebrates after scoring their second goal during the World Cup round of 16 soccer match between Canada and Morocco in Houston, Saturday, July 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Morocco's Azzedine Ounahi, center, is congratulated by teammates after scoring his side's 2nd goal against Canada during the World Cup round of 16 soccer match in Houston, Saturday, July 4, 2026. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Morocco's Azzedine Ounahi celebrates after scoring his side's second goal against Canada during the World Cup round of 16 soccer match in Houston, Saturday, July 4, 2026. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
