His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, praised the fighting spirit of the Atlas Lions following Morocco's decisive 3-0 victory over Canada and their qualification for the quarter-finals of the 2026 World Cup.

In a post on the X social media platform on Saturday, the Ruler of Dubai wrote: "Heartiest congratulations to the Atlas Lions on today's victory and their advancement to the World Cup quarter-finals; a powerful performance and a fighting spirit that brings us joy and pride." He further extended his congratulations to the Moroccan people and King Mohammed VI, wishing the team continued success in their upcoming matches.

Morocco, facing Canada—one of the three World Cup hosts—in the Round of 16 on Saturday, delivered an exceptional performance to become the first team to secure a spot in the top eight of the 2026 World Cup. In the match held in Houston, Azzedine Ounahi scored twice against Canada, while Soufiane Rahimi added a third goal in the final moments of the game. Moroccan goalkeeper Yassine Bounou also played a crucial role, making spectacular saves in the first half to prevent the host nation's heavy pressure from resulting in a goal.

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This victory marks Morocco's second consecutive qualification for the World Cup quarter-finals, extending the unbeaten run of Mohamed Ouahbi’s side to 10 matches. The Atlas Lions, who were denied a place in the 2022 Qatar World Cup final after being eliminated by France, will face the same opponent again this Thursday, July 9, in Boston—a chance to avenge that historic defeat. Despite their exit at this stage, Canada had reached the World Cup knockout rounds for the first time in their history.

Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Vice President, also sent a separate message describing Morocco’s qualification as a "well-deserved triumph for the Atlas Lions," stating that the achievement followed a powerful performance and high spirits that demonstrated the Moroccan national team's resolve. The Ruler of Dubai had previously praised the success of the Egyptian national team during the current tournament, which is being co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.