Maxwell Shepherd
Is Canada actually a World Cup team now?
Is Canada actually a World Cup team now?
Image: @canadasoccer, Instagram
The Topline
- Canada is in position to win Group B and advance to the knockout stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup with a win or draw against Switzerland.
- The team had never won, or even scored a goal, during its previous two World Cup appearances in 1986 and 2022.
- Canada opened its campaign with a draw against Bosnia and Herzegovina, then pummelled Qatar 6-0, setting the stage for its final Group Stage match against Switzerland to determine the winner of Group B.
- Players and coaches are praising the support and atmosphere of playing in front of tens of thousands of Canadian fans at their home matches.
- Ranked 30th in the world, Canada had longshot odds of 250-1 to win the tournament, but those odds have moved to 150-1 following the win against Qatar.
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We are awesome
Heading into the World Cup, expectations around Canada were mixed.
Some fans truly believed we could make a deep run, while others simply hoped for Canada’s first-ever World Cup goal.
But after Canada’s first two matches, it’s hard to argue we haven’t already achieved something worth celebrating.
Canada opened its campaign with a 1-1 draw against Bosnia and Herzegovina in Toronto. That gave us our first-ever point in the standings after six straight losses during the 1986 and 2022 tournaments combined.
It wasn’t a flashy result, but it showed the Canadians could compete against experienced European opposition while avoiding the kind of mistakes that have plagued previous tournaments.
With key injuries overshadowing the squad and a lacklustre first half against Bosnia and Herzegovina, the result gave the team confidence heading into its second match the following week.
That’s when Canada made history in Vancouver and delivered a statement performance against Qatar, cruising to a historic 6-0 victory.
Regardless of the opposition, a six-goal win at a World Cup is something few nations ever experience.
More importantly, it marked Canada’s first-ever men’s World Cup victory and first clean sheet, transforming what had been decades of disappointment into a moment supporters will remember forever.
Although Canada lost talented midfielder Ismaël Koné to injury in the match, it gave Nathan Saliba a chance to show his stuff. He came on in relief and scored a stunning goal.
Saliba’s performance offered a glimpse of his potential for Canada on the world stage. An emerging talent currently playing in Belgium, this could be his major breakout moment, giving fans even more hope for the future.
Success at a World Cup isn’t solely measured by how far a team advances. For emerging soccer programs like Canada’s, progress matters just as much.
Our men’s national team has captured the country’s attention while inspiring a new generation of supporters — something that could have a lasting impact long after the tournament ends.
Switzerland represents our biggest test. But with very good chances of reaching the knockout stage, there is every reason to believe that Canada’s story is only getting started.
And if the journey were to end sooner than we hope, our boys have already given us memorable moments, packed stadiums and a sense that Canadian soccer is no longer just happy to be here.
It was only Qatar
Let’s not get ahead of ourselves.
Our country’s World Cup history sets a fairly low bar for “success.” And with this year’s tournament far from over, Canada has yet to face a top-tier opponent.
Bosnia and Herzegovina and Qatar — our first two opponents — are respectable teams, but neither is considered among the world’s elite.
Our next match against Switzerland is a different story. It represents the toughest test of the group and will ultimately show whether Canada can prove itself against higher-level opposition.
But that’s not the only thing at stake.
If Canada loses to Switzerland and finishes second — which most betting odds currently suggest is more likely — the excitement from the opening two matches will quickly fade.
Instead, we’d miss out on a more favourable knockout path and lose the advantage of playing an elimination match in Vancouver in front of a home crowd. The squad would travel to Los Angeles for an elimination match against the runner-up of Group A, likely South Korea.
But a win or draw would mean Canada plays its Round of 32 match at home against a third-place team from one of five other groups, effectively setting up the match against the Swiss as a “battle to stay in Vancouver.”
Canadian midfielder Ismaël Koné suffered a devastating broken tibia and fibula against Qatar, an injury that not only ended his World Cup but cast a shadow over what was a historic evening.
Losing one of Canada’s most talented players certainly raises doubts over whether the team has enough depth to win as the competition gets tougher.
But like it or not, the expectations have changed. We’re no longer happy to receive a participation medal. We already have two of those.
Celebrating progress is understandable, but lowering expectations is a disservice. Great tournaments are remembered for what teams accomplish when the pressure is at its highest.
We have home support, one of the most talented squads in the country’s history, and momentum on our side. Advancing to the knockout stage should be the standard rather than the dream.
So with Switzerland still yet to come, put that champagne back in the fridge. For now.
