With all the chaos swirling around the United States leg of the 2026 World Cup โ political drama, talk of matches being shifted away from Mexico โ it is very easy to forget that there is actually a third country hosting this thing. Canada. Quietly getting on with it, as Canadians tend to do.
And here is the thing. Canada genuinely believe this squad is the best they have ever put together, and when you look at the names involved, it is hard to argue. Jonathan David is scoring goals for fun in Europe. Alphonso Davies is one of the best left backs on the planet on his day. Tajon Buchanan, Jonathan Osorio, Cyle Larin โ there is genuine quality running right through this side in a way Canadian football has simply never seen before.
They qualified for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, their first appearance since 1986, and while the tournament itself did not go to plan โ they lost all three group games and went home without scoring โ the experience clearly meant something. This group knows what it feels like to be there now, and being able to do it at home in front of their own fans is a completely different proposition.
Home tournaments have a funny way of dragging teams to levels they probably should not reach. South Korea 2002 being the obvious mad example. Canada will not be winning the World Cup, let us be honest about that, but getting out of a group? Causing an upset or two? Absolutely within reach for a side with this much talent and this much motivation.
The crowds across Toronto, Vancouver and Edmonton are going to be electric. Canadian football fans have waited a long time for a moment like this, and the players know exactly what it means. Whether the pressure of home expectations helps or hurts them will be one of the more interesting storylines of the whole tournament.
Do not sleep on Canada. Everyone else will, and that might just suit them perfectly.
Let me know your thoughts.