FIFA WORLD CUP: Canada end 36-year wait to reach finals at last
TORONTO: Canada have stepped out of the men’s soccer shadow of the United States to reach the World Cup finals for the first time since 1986.
A 4-0 victory over Jamaica 4-0 in Toronto means the Canadians will finish in one of the top three places in the final CONCACAF qualifying round.
In 1986, in Mexico, Canada finished bottom of their group without scoring.
A 30,000 crowd saw Cyle Larin and Tajon Buchanan put Canada 2-0 up at half-time before Junior Hoilett and an Adrian Mariappa own goal sealed the victory.
It led to joyous celebrations from the sell-out crowd at BMO Field as Canada – who will cohost the 2026 finals – clinched World Cup qualification for only the second time.
Canada have won eight, drawn four and lost just one of their qualifying games to reach the World Cup.
English coach John Herdman, who led the Canadian women’s team to successive Olympic bronze medals in 2012 and 2016, has guided Les Rouges to Qatar in his first qualifying campaign in charge.
He said: “We just qualified for the World Cup, this is a legit football country.
“When I first took over and I said, ‘We’re going to qualify for the World Cup’, I don’t think they believed us. I’m happy for them because all of these fans have waited and waited and waited, and hung in with us – and we’re going.
“I think this country never believed in us because we’ve given them nothing to believe in. They believe now. This is the time for everyone to get behind football and unite because we can be a powerhouse.”
Herdman last worked in England as an academy coach at Sunderland more than 20 years ago.
The United States, Mexico, Costa Rica and Panama are all in contention for the final two automatic CONCACAF qualification spots.
Mexico and the US, who face El Salvador and Costa Rica respectively on Wednesday, need only a draw from their final qualification game to book their spots in Qatar.
Costa Rica, in fourth place, would need a big win against the US and for results to go their way to finish in the top three.
The fourth-placed country in the eight-team table earns a play-off against the winner of Wednesday’s final of Oceania qualifying between the Solomon Islands and New Zealand.
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