It’s not just that the first men’s World Cup game in Canada is around the corner. A potential landscape-altering sporting event for the nation will begin in 50 days.
Unlike the other 2026 World Cup co-hosts, Canada has never been in this position. What could happen with a strong performance on home soil? Domestically, soccer could end up joining mainstream consciousness the way it did in the United States after the 1994 World Cup.
But first Canada must answer one of the biggest questions facing any World Cup nation: Can it win to captivate a country in the process? Canada certainly won’t feel the external pressure like heavyweights England, Brazil and Spain might. Its pressure is internal. The reality is that the opportunity to cohost a World Cup and prove it’s a soccer country might not come again. Jesse Marsch’s squad has internationally-recognized talent. Now it needs to play like it on the biggest stage.
Canada’s 2022 World Cup campaign was a disappointment, featuring three defeats in Qatar. Now, with more attention than ever, grabbing a first win and getting to the knockout round – a stated goal – would be potentially transformative, such is the ongoing shift with the continued rise of soccer and multiculturalism in Canada amid the backdrop of continued scandals and rising costs of hockey.
This team needs a defining World Cup moment. Alphonso Davies’ thrilling effort against Croatia in 2022 provided Canada its first men’s World Cup goal. But Croatia added four afterwards to deliver a helping of embarrassment.
And so, Canada’s mission is more ambitious in scope than its peers. Davies, Jonathan David, Tajon Buchanan and others make up a talent pool that gives Canada the potential to fulfill it. But can they?
Who is in form?
Ismaël Koné, the oft-mercurial central midfielder, has gone from being cast aside at Marseille following a high-profile transfer to since finding his game again with Sassuolo. Canada doesn’t have a true starting attacking midfielder, but Koné is playing himself into that role with success higher up the pitch in Italy. He has three goals in his last 11 Serie A starts. Crucially, after stumbling through and after 2024 Copa América, Koné is weaving through opposition midfields and shooting from distance with confidence. He is trending towards being a game-changer this summer.
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Who is out of form?
Tani Oluwaseyi is at risk of losing a presumed starting forward spot alongside Jonathan David. Cyle Larin, the veteran forward, is banging goals in with regularity at Southampton (five in his last nine Championship matches) and has the confidence you’d want ahead of an important tournament.
Oluwaseyi, meanwhile, has always had Marsch’s eye because of his athleticism and pressing abilities. But a forward must score, and Oluwaseyi has not found the back of the net in La Liga with Villarreal since November 22. As his consistency has dried up, so too have his starts.
Are there any injuries to worry about?
Most definitely, but Canada is (slowly) finding its way out of the woods.
Moïse Bombito, a pivotal starting center back, suffered a broken left in October and has not played since. Marsch said in March that Bombito’s recovery is not as far along as the national team had hoped, yet Bombito told The Athletic he will play at the World Cup. How powerful he is this summer remains to be seen.
Promise David, fourth on Canada’s forward depth chart, had hip surgery in February. Canada remains hopeful it can hold a spot for him should he recover in time, though that feels like a long shot.
Elsewhere, Alistair Johnston’s return from a hamstring injury was delayed after a setback with Canada in March. Stephen Eustáquio last played March 7 before suffering a blood clot in his leg. Luc de Fougerolles will soon return from an ankle injury.
Dayne St. Clair is locked in a battle for Canada’s starting goalkeeper spot. (Anatoliy Cherkasov / Informa Plus Photo Agency / LightRocket / Getty Images)
What’s the biggest thing manager your manager needs to sort out before the tournament kicks off?
Who starts in goal? You could quibble over whether Davies starts at left midfield or left back, but the question that continued to hang over Canada’s March international window was the uncertainty in between the posts.
Neither Dayne St. Clair nor Maxime Crépeau has truly grabbed the starting position with their respective MLS struggles. Canada’s coaching staff had hoped one would have emerged as a clear starter by March.
Each offers different strengths, but Canada won’t split starts in the World Cup either. The time is ticking for one to make Marsch’s mind up for him. Perhaps a head-to-head meeting May 2 in MLS will be the difference-maker.
If you picked a starting XI today who would be in it?
(4-4-2, right to left)
Dayne St. Clair; Richie Laryea, Moïse Bombito, Derek Cornelius, Alphonso Davies; Tajon Buchanan, Stephen Eustáquio, Ismaël Koné, Ali Ahmed; Cyle Larin, Jonathan David
What are the key storylines around Bosnia and Herzegovina?
Can Bosnia and Herzegovina continue to play with house money and upset another favorite?
The Balkan nation’s win on penalties over Italy was a World Cup qualifying shock for the ages. They played intelligent, compact soccer against a side with far more stars and showed no sign of nerves throughout. It’s not what you’d expect from a country that’s qualified for just one World Cup before, in 2014. They should now show no more nerves as they continue their journey through North America. What’s the sense of changing how they play now?
The idea is simple: keep moving forward with the hopes of upsetting teams along the way. Maintaining that same underdog mentality and avoiding any sense of external pressure could lead to another upset, even as the visiting nation for a cohost’s opener.
Warm-up games: TBC
What are the key storylines around Qatar?
Can Qatar show enough quality to fight for third?
Yes, Qatar reached for the World Cup for the second time, with its first as host nation four years ago. But its qualifying campaign was not always a pretty sight: in the third round of AFC qualifying, Qatar made it to the next round with a -7 goal differential through 10 games and allowed 24 goals, the most of the 18 teams in that round. Let’s not forget, Qatar finished 32nd of 32 teams on home soil in 2022.
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Nearly all of Qatar’s players feature in the Qatar Stars League. There’s just not enough game-breaking talent to suggest it could mount a serious threat to any one of the other teams in Group B. Even if it grinds out points, the possibility of a heavy negative goal-differential from the game against Switzerland could threaten any chance Qatar has of going through, even as a third-place side.
Warm-up games: TBC
What are the key storylines around Switzerland?
Can this tactically astute and reliable side finally win a knockout round game?
Since 1938, the Swiss have never won a crucial game after the group stage. In the last three World Cups, they have been bounced in the round of 16. They’re one of the better sides in the field (ranked 19th by FIFA) and certainly feel on the cusp of climbing into that upper echelon. There may never be a more advantageous time to take the leap.
They certainly have to feel fortunate drawing Canada, the lowest-ranked Pot 1 team in December’s draw, in their group. That makes Switzerland the favorite to not just get out of Group B, but to top it. Then, they’d play a third-place team from another group. They need that knockout-round win to elevate their global status.
Warm-up games:
Jordan, May 31
Australia, June 6
When and where are the World Cup group games?
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Group B schedule
Matchday 1
DateMatchupLocation
Canada
Canada
Bosnia and Herz.
Bosnia and Herz.
Toronto, Canada
Qatar
Qatar
Switzerland
Switzerland
Santa Clara, Calif.
Matchday 2
DateMatchupLocation
Bosnia and Herz.
Bosnia and Herz.
Switzerland
Switzerland
Los Angeles
Canada
Canada
Qatar
Qatar
Vancouver, Canada
Matchday 3
DateMatchupLocation
Canada
Canada
Switzerland
Switzerland
Vancouver, Canada
Bosnia and Herz.
Bosnia and Herz.
Qatar
Qatar
Seattle
See full schedule and draw
Is there anything traveling fans need to know?
Canada could end up offering a respite from the potential chaos that could develop at some American World Cup host cities. Transportation to and from Canada’s two World Cup venues appears plentiful and cheap. Both cities will likely offer a safe and comfortable experience for fans. And the summer heat promises to not be nearly as punishing in Canada as it will be in some southern US cities.
So, you want drama as a fan traveling to follow Canada? As of right now, it seems unlikely you’ll find it north of the border.