Canada's journey in the FIFA World Cup began with its first appearance in 1986, held in Mexico. This marked a significant milestone for Canadian soccer, as it was the country's debut on the global stage. However, their first outing was a tough one. Canada FIFA World Cup Team was placed in a challenging group, and, despite their efforts, they could not advance past the group stage. They played three matches and, unfortunately, did not score any goals, finishing 24th overall in the tournament. This experience, though disappointing, laid the foundation for future developments in Canadian soccer.
Fast forward 36 years to the FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar, Canada qualified for the tournament for the second time. Under the leadership of coach John Herdman, the team entered the competition with high hopes. Canada's FIFA World Cup team was placed in Group F, facing strong opponents like Belgium, Croatia, and Morocco. Despite their best efforts, Canada lost all three group matches. However, the tournament was not without its highlights. One of Canada's standout players, Alphonso Davies made history by scoring the country's first-ever Football World Cup goal in a match against Croatia. While the team could not progress to the knockout stages, their performance showed the potential and growth of Canadian soccer on the world stage.
Alphonso Davies has been a key player for Canada, widely regarded as one of the best in the nation's history. His contributions and those of other players like Dwayne De Rosario have been crucial in elevating Canada's presence in international football. As the head coach, John Herdman has played a pivotal role in transforming the Canadian national team, leading them to their second FIFA World Cup qualification in 2022 and preparing them for future challenges.
Looking ahead, Canada is set to co-host the FIFA World Cup 2026 alongside the United States and Mexico. This historic event will mark Canada's third appearance in the Football World Cup and the first time the tournament will be hosted on Canadian soil. As a host nation, Canada is automatically qualified for the tournament, and expectations are high for a strong performance. The FIFA 2026 World Cup will be an opportunity for Canada to showcase their growth as a footballing nation and to make a deeper impact on the global stage.