Amid political turbulence in the US and talk of moving matches out of Mexico, it can be forgotten that there is a third co-host of the 2026 World Cup. Canada, often overlooked, will smile and be polite while the countries down south take the headlines, according to Canadian football journalist Har Johal. But behind the politeness stereotype lies a steely belief that arguably Canada's greatest-ever men's football team can finally make a statement on the world stage.
Canada's third appearance at the men's World Cup finals follows those of 1986 and 2022, but their record has been dismal: six games, six losses, two goals scored and 12 conceded. At Qatar 2022, they were backed as potential dark horses after an impressive qualification campaign, only to be outclassed in a tough group featuring Belgium, Croatia and Morocco – the latter two reached the semi-finals. This time, with more top-level international experience under their belts and the boost of a home crowd, expectations are rising.
“Canada, co-hosts of the 2026 World Cup, aim to make a statement with their 'best ever' team starting against Bosnia-Herzegovina.”
"The timing is fantastic, but it has been building for Canada – we have seen more players in Europe, the talent is there," Johal told BBC Sport. "People are getting excited, it is slowly building. People are really behind Team Canada, it is ramping up every day. This is a great generation, the best Canadian team we have ever had."
On paper, Canada's group is more favourable this time. They face Switzerland, Qatar and Bosnia-Herzegovina – the latter having beaten Italy on penalties to earn their spot. Canada's opening match is against Bosnia-Herzegovina on Friday at 20:00 BST in Toronto. The team is led by Bayern Munich winger Alphonso Davies, who has scored 15 goals in 58 appearances for his country – described by Johal as "100% the face of the team".
Off the pitch, Canada has avoided the local travel cost controversies of some American locations thanks to both host cities – Vancouver and Toronto – having stadiums in the city centre. But ticketing issues persist thanks to Fifa's pricing structure, and hotel prices are steep: downtown Vancouver hotels have rates of more than $1,000 per night during the World Cup, with some above $2,000 on match days. The average hotel price during the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver was $359 per night, meaning rates have surged by over 300% in some cases compared to typical 2025 prices.
As Canada prepares to kick off their campaign, the sense of belief is building. "People are saying there is no reason Canada cannot progress," Johal added. The world will soon see if this 'best ever' team can finally deliver on home soil.