Morocco vs. Canada: Royal Air Maroc adds flights to Houston

The airline announced Wednesday on Facebook that the 12 flights to Houston could accommodate more than 3,000 fans looking to come to Texas for the team’s round of 16 matchup.

There are regularly no direct flights between Houston and Morocco, per the Houston Airports website.

Tickets started at 10,000 Moroccan Dirham, which is about $1066. However, flights filled up quickly with multiple flights being fully booked around an hour after the initial post, according to a follow-up comment from the airline.

Houston Airports has not responded to a request for comment.

This isn’t the first time Royal Air Maroc is running this deal. The airline ran the same promotion ahead of the team’s matchup Monday in Monterrey, Mexico, against the Netherlands.

Morocco won that match in penalty kicks after a stoppage time goal from Issa Diop tied the score and sent the game to extra time.

The Atlas Lions are the highest-ranked African team in the world and became the first African team to make a World Cup semifinals in 2022.

They haven’t lost a match at the World Cup so far, after tying Brazil and defeating Scotland and Haiti in the group stage.

Morocco enters the match as the favorites against Canada.

Saturday’s match is the last of seven World Cup matches in Houston. Previous games have featured a second-half comeback from Brazil to eliminate Japan, Cristiano Ronaldo becoming the first player to score in six World Cups and Cape Verde qualifying for the World Cup knockout stage.