CANADA IS HEADING TO QATAR

UEFA / Soccer

Written by Aaron Cantin

For the first time in my life, I can say that Team Canada has officially qualified for the World Cup. With an empathic 4-0 win over Jamaica at BMO Field in Toronto on a freezing Sunday afternoon, Team Canada not only qualified for the FIFA World Cup for the first time in 36 years, but they also made a statement. Watch out. Canada is the first (and until Wednesday the only) team in North and Central America to qualify for the World Cup. USA and Mexico are likely to follow if they win their matches this week. Canada did not just sneak into the World Cup, they did it with ease. Let’s recap Sunday’s win and how Canada has come so far, surpassing the likes of the United States and Mexico along the way.

Source (Background Photo): Getty Images

Cyle Larin, Canada's all-time men's leading scorer, opened Sunday's accounts in the 13th minute by slotting home a beautifully weighted through ball from Stephen Eustáquio. From that point on, it was a party on and off the field. Everyone knew it, even Jamaica. Kudos to Jamaica for hopping on the plane and showing up for a full 90 minutes with nothing to play for. Did I mention it felt closer to -15 degrees celsius?

Head coach John Herdman, having lifted both the men's and women's programs to their highest heights, arguably becoming the country's most significant soccer figure in its history, hugged everyone who came within arm's length once the final whistle blew.

Jonathan Osorio pulled a bass drum out of the crowd and carried it to the middle of the pitch, where he led a drum chant in front of a full BMO Field.

We should be reminded this was done without Canada’s undisputed leader, world-class left-back Alphonso Davies. Alphonso Davies missed the last five qualifiers following a bout of COVID-induced myocarditis, live-streamed his reaction from his club base in Munich on Twitch: "Done!" he had said at the final whistle, and then he started crying and fell on his back on the floor. "Oh my God, yes," he said, having dropped almost entirely out of frame. "Yes. Oh my God."

Atiba Hutchinson, who at 39 years of age had taken some convincing to make his fifth attempt to help Canada qualify for the World Cup he feared would never come, and who heard the entire stadium chant "ATIBA, ATIBA" when he came on as a second-half substitute, returned the love after, blowing kisses to the last of the crowd before heading down the tunnel to join the party that would continue late into the night.

The historic win came 37 years after Canada qualified for the 1986 World Cup in Mexico with a 1-0 victory over Honduras on Sept. 14, 1985, in St. John's, N.L. That marked the Canadian men's lone trip to the soccer showcase, where they lost all three games without scoring a goal.

How they got here

The Canadian men qualified the hard way this time. While CONCACAF powerhouses like Mexico and the U.S. got a bye to the final round of qualifying (the round they are currently in), Canada had to start at the bottom in the region.

Herdman's team had to dispatch Aruba, Bermuda, the Cayman Islands, Suriname and Haiti just to reach the final round of qualifying for the first time since the lead-up to France '98.

Against the two traditional regional powerhouses, the U.S. and Mexico, Canada won both of its home games and drew on the road. Until Thursday night’s defeat in Costa Rica, Canada had gone undefeated throughout the entirety of the qualification process.

During its unprecedented run, Canada saw its FIFA world ranking jump from 78th at the end of the last World Cup year up to 33rd heading into this window. Canada’s rise is among the greatest stories currently happening in international soccer anywhere.

Foremost among them has been superstars Alphonso Davies and Jonathan David, who are among the most highly touted young prospects in the world. Tajon Buchanan, who scored for Canada on Sunday, has dazzled with his attacking flair, while Stephen Eustaquio’s vision and precision have made him the linchpin of Canada’s midfield. On the defensive side, Richie Laryea, Alistair Johnston, Scott Kennedy and Kamal Miller have stepped up with grit and determination.

Far from squeaking into the World Cup, this Canadian team is barging their way through the door. After years of offensive struggles, Canada scored the most goals of any men’s national team in the world in 2021, with 53 of them in 18 games.

Looking ahead

The 2022 World Cup will take place from Nov. 21 to Dec. 18.

Already qualified in the 32-team men's World Cup field are host Qatar, Argentina, Belgium, Brazil, Croatia, Denmark, Ecuador, England, France, Germany, Iran, Japan, the Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland and Uruguay.

This time around, Canada reached the World Cup entirely on merit. In 2026, when the World Cup expands to 48 teams, Canada won’t have to worry about the qualifying process since it will be expected to earn an automatic bid as co-host with the U.S. and Mexico.

Either way, manager John Herdman’s team is one on a rapid rise, and it’s one that no opponent in Qatar should take lightly despite its inexperience on the game’s premier stage.

Canada will learn those opponents on April 1, when it is part of a World Cup draw for the first time in over three decades.