Morocco’s World Cup journey so far is already making an impact off the pitch. Canadian airlines are adding more seats on flights to Houston before Morocco face Canada in the last 16 of the 2026 World Cup on 4 July.
Canada reached the knockout stage for the first time after beating South Africa 1-0. They will now play the Atlas Lions at NRG Stadium in Houston.
Even before Morocco beat the Netherlands to seal their place in the last 16, airlines expected the two teams could meet.
WestJet planned to use bigger aircraft on eight flights between Calgary and Houston around the match. The airline can now add up to 42 extra seats on each flight, giving more than 330 extra seats in total.
Air Canada has also added more seats on a Toronto to Houston flight on 3 July. The airline is also looking at adding more capacity on other flights.
The match is expected to draw a full crowd at the 72,000-seat NRG Stadium. Hotels in Houston are also expected to be more than 90% full during the match weekend.
Past World Cup tournaments show that bookings on long-distance flights often rise by 200% to 300% after a knockout match is confirmed. Average ticket prices can also increase by 15% to 25% because many fans book at the last minute.
The match is also expected to bring a major boost to Houston’s economy. Previous World Cup host cities have seen a single knockout match generate between 100 million and 250 million US dollars through spending on hotels, restaurants, shops and transport.
Morocco’s strong support around the world is one reason for the high demand. More than 100,000 people of Moroccan origin live in the United States, while more than 110,000 live in Canada.
Millions more are expected to watch the match on television around the world, making it one of the most-watched games of the last 16.
