When it comes to soccer, this is as good as it gets for Canada - The Globe and Mail
Canada’s World Cup Performance
Canada concluded its World Cup journey after reaching the round of 16, a significant achievement for the men’s national team. As one of the three host nations for the 2026 World Cup, the team marked several firsts in the competition, including earning their first-ever point and securing their first-ever victory. This run represents the furthest the team has advanced in the tournament’s history.
The team’s campaign ended with a 3-0 loss to Morocco in the round of 16. Despite the defeat, head coach Jesse Marsch expressed pride in his team’s efforts. One report highlighted Canada’s performance in the first half against Morocco, describing it as “spectacular football” against a highly-ranked opponent, noting that only a decisive action or a goal was missing to capitalize on their dominance.
Hosting the World Cup
Canada’s role as a co-host for the World Cup has been a major story this summer, with the games played in the country generating considerable interest. The tournament’s presence in Canada, particularly the three matches involving the home nation, has been described as potentially transformative for Canadian soccer culture. This is compared to the impact the 1994 World Cup had on American soccer after the United States hosted the event.
The two Canadian host cities, Vancouver and Toronto, each received matches. While Mexico hosted the tournament’s opening match on June 11, Canada’s venues garnered positive attention. Vancouver’s BC Place, despite being one of the smaller stadiums with a capacity of just over 52,000, received praise from players like Belgium midfielder Kevin De Bruyne for its atmosphere and suitability for soccer.
In Toronto, BMO Field also saw significant excitement, particularly during Canada’s match against Bosnia and Herzegovina. The addition of temporary seats underscored the high level of interest. Former Portugal head coach Roberto Martinez commended BMO Field, describing it as a “wonderful field” that reminded him of traditional Premier League grounds.
Beyond the stadiums, the tournament’s impact was evident in public engagement. Transit systems in both Vancouver and Toronto operated efficiently, facilitating fan movement to and from games. Fan festivals were well-attended, and supporters of various nations, such as Colombia and Portugal, gathered in large numbers outside their teams’ hotels. FIFA vice-president and CONCACAF president Victor Montagliani noted Canada’s welcoming approach as a host nation.
Impact and Future of Canadian Soccer
The World Cup generated substantial viewership in Canada. Canada’s 3-0 loss to Morocco in the round of 16 drew an average audience of 5.4 million viewers across Canadian broadcasters. This made it the most-watched World Cup game on record in Canada, excluding the final match. With Canada’s population slightly over 41 million, this indicates that approximately one in every eight people watched the game, suggesting a growing national interest in soccer.
The idea that “soccer has arrived” in Canada has been a recurring theme, with some suggesting the women’s Olympic team’s semi-final match against the U.S. on August 6, 2012, in Manchester, England, marked a turning point for national engagement with the sport. While Canada has shown it can achieve modest success and produce individual talents like Alphonso Davies, some observers suggest it is unrealistic to expect the country to consistently develop the same depth of talent as nations like Argentina or England.
Canada Soccer CEO Kevin Blue outlined a wish list for the future, including encouraging media to cover Canadian soccer more consistently. However, the sentiment among some is that while Canada has progressed from being “embarrassingly poor” at soccer to being “okay, and sometimes good,” this current level of achievement might be “as good as it gets” for the nation in the World Cup.
The 2026 World Cup will be missed in Canada, with the remaining eight matches of the tournament set to be played in the United States.
Source: theglobeandmail.com
