The Short Version
July 4 opened the round of 16 in emphatic fashion — and ended the host nation’s tournament. Morocco routed Canada 3-0 at NRG Stadium, a performance that turned a home last-16 tie into a statement and carried the giant-killers into the quarter-finals. France ground out a 1-0 win over Paraguay at Lincoln Financial Field to join them in the last eight. Earlier, Colombia beat Ghana 1-0 to complete the round of 32. Morocco and France are the first two teams into the quarter-finals; Canada, Paraguay and Ghana are out.
Some days confirm a story that has been building. July 4 did exactly that: the Morocco side that has looked like nobody’s idea of a good draw all tournament walked into the host nation’s biggest night and took it apart. France’s win was narrower but no less decisive, and by the end of the day the quarter-finals had their first two names.
July 4 results at a glance
| Tie | Stage | Score | Venue | Through |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canada vs Morocco | Round of 16 | 0–3 | NRG Stadium, Houston | Morocco |
| Paraguay vs France | Round of 16 | 0–1 | Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia | France |
| Colombia vs Ghana | Round of 32 | 1–0 | Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City | Colombia |
Two last-16 ties sent Morocco and France into the quarter-finals, while Colombia’s win over Ghana closed the book on the round of 32.
Morocco crush the host nation
The result of the day, and one of the results of the tournament, was in Houston. Morocco beat Canada 3-0 at NRG Stadium to reach the quarter-finals — a ruthless dismantling of the host nation on what should have been the biggest night of Canada’s World Cup. It was exactly the kind of performance our spotlight on Morocco had warned was coming: the side that held Brazil and knocked out the Netherlands proving, again, that it is nobody’s easy draw.
Canada had carried the energy of a home crowd and the deepest World Cup run in their history into the tie, but Morocco silenced the occasion and then ran away with it. For the co-hosts, it is a chastening end to a memorable tournament. For Morocco, the quarter-finals await, and a team with genuine belief keeps rolling, as the result confirmed.
France grind past Paraguay
France’s route to the last eight was far tighter. The Group I winners beat Paraguay 1-0 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia — a controlled, low-margin win over the side that had earlier knocked Germany out on penalties. Paraguay, organised and awkward as ever, made France work for it, but a single goal was enough for one of the tournament favourites to advance.
It continues a serene run for France, who cruised past Sweden in the round of 32 and have now negotiated the last 16 without conceding, as the day’s coverage showed. Paraguay’s fine tournament — highlighted by that shock elimination of Germany — ends in the last 16, but with plenty of credit.
Colombia complete the round of 32
The day had begun with the final round-of-32 tie. Colombia beat Ghana 1-0 at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City to complete the last-32 line-up and book their place in the round of 16, where Switzerland await. It was a low-key end to a dramatic stage — a single goal settling a tight game — but it means the bracket is now complete and the knockout rounds run uninterrupted from here.
The last 16 still to come
With Morocco and France through, the quarter-finals are taking shape. These round-of-16 ties remain:
| Round-of-16 tie | Date | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| Brazil vs Norway | July 5 | MetLife Stadium |
| Mexico vs England | July 6 | Estadio Azteca, Mexico City |
| Portugal vs Spain | July 6 | AT&T Stadium, Arlington |
| USA vs Belgium | July 7 | Lumen Field, Seattle |
| Argentina vs Egypt | July 7 | Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta |
| Switzerland vs Colombia | July 7 | BC Place, Vancouver |
Morocco and France, as the first two quarter-finalists, are in line to meet each other in the last eight — a mouth-watering tie in prospect, with the bracket now set. The round of 16 continues on July 5 with Brazil against Norway.
Frequently asked questions
What were the July 4 World Cup results? Morocco beat Canada 3-0 and France beat Paraguay 1-0 in the round of 16, while Colombia beat Ghana 1-0 in the final round-of-32 tie. Morocco and France reached the quarter-finals.
What was the Canada vs Morocco score? Morocco beat the host nation Canada 3-0 at NRG Stadium in Houston to reach the quarter-finals, ending Canada’s World Cup.
Did Morocco knock out the host nation? Yes. Morocco beat Canada 3-0 in the round of 16, eliminating the co-hosts and continuing a run that has already seen them hold Brazil and beat the Netherlands.
What was the France vs Paraguay score? France beat Paraguay 1-0 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia to reach the quarter-finals, a narrow win over the side that had earlier eliminated Germany.
Which teams reached the quarter-finals on July 4? Morocco and France both reached the quarter-finals, the first two teams to do so.
Which teams were eliminated on July 4? Canada, Paraguay and Ghana were all knocked out. Canada and Paraguay went out in the round of 16, and Ghana in the round of 32.
Did Colombia advance? Yes. Colombia beat Ghana 1-0 to complete the round of 32 and reach the round of 16, where they face Switzerland on July 7.
What round-of-16 ties are still to come? Remaining last-16 ties include Brazil vs Norway (July 5), Mexico vs England and Portugal vs Spain (July 6), and USA vs Belgium, Argentina vs Egypt and Switzerland vs Colombia (July 7).
