Bounou stands between David and Canada's upset
Canada roll out two strikers; Morocco answer with Bounou and a double pivot.
Canada set up 4-4-2, Jonathan David and Tani Oluwaseyi paired up front. Their task is simple to state, hard to do: solve Yassine Bounou, the man guarding Morocco's 4-2-3-1. Everything the hosts hope for funnels into that duel.
Morocco crowd the centre. Ayyoub Bouaddi and Neil El Aynaoui screen; Brahim Díaz and Bilal El Khannouss drift in the pockets behind Ismael Saibari. Canada's engine room of Niko Sigur and Stephen Eustaquio — who struck last time out, a 1-0 win over South Africa — must own that congested zone, or the visitors dictate.
The numbers lean one way. Morocco haven't lost in five: two wins, three draws. The bookmakers make them strong favourites. Canada's recent matches have been the more open, Morocco's the lower-scoring — and if that pattern holds, patience beats the hosts.
A neutral footnote: the nations last met at the 2022 World Cup, Canada 1-2 Morocco.
Written and fact-checked by our AI preview desk from live match data. Refreshed as kickoff nears.
