The team had only qualified once before – in 1986 – meaning a whole new generation of fans are set to cheer on the national team as they enter the world’s premier football tournament. To help Canadians understand the road to the title and who might ultimately prevail, CBC News has prepared a guide for bandwagon fans with everything you need to know about the beautiful game — and Canada’s chances. Have a question about the World Cup? Email us at [email protected]
New to football, here! What basics should I know?
The World Cup is held every four years. Canada is one of 32 teams after qualifying for the tournament from its continental confederation. Qatar is hosting this year’s tournament (controversial — more on that later) and will play the opening match against Ecuador on November 20. The World Cup final is scheduled for December 18, with the winner receiving the FIFA World Cup trophy. In case you’re wondering, there’s also a Women’s World Cup, which will be held in Australia and New Zealand next July — and Canada will be playing. Al Thumama Stadium is pictured in Doha, Qatar, on Tuesday. Qatar has spent tens of billions of dollars on new infrastructure for the World Cup. (Kirill Kudryavtsev/AFP/Getty Images)
How does the contest work?
First, the group stage: Teams are divided into eight groups of four and will play each team in their own group once. There will be four matches each day over 12 days. At this stage, a win is worth three points, a draw is worth one and a loss is worth zero points. The top two teams from each group — that is, the teams with the most “points” — will advance to the knockout round. The knockout round: The remaining 16 teams will play different groups (for example, the first team in Group A will play the second team in Group B). Each losing team is eliminated from the tournament until the semifinals, when four teams remain. Two will advance to the final, while the remaining two will play for third place.
Who is Canada playing?
Canada is in Group F, so it will play Belgium (November 23), Croatia (November 27) and Morocco (December 1) in the group stage. For the football uninitiated, these are three tough matches: Belgium are currently second in the FIFA men’s rankings, Croatia lost the 2018 World Cup final to France and Morocco were unbeaten in World Cup qualifying.
So we’re not going to win the World Cup?
Experts say probably not — but don’t let that put you off. Remember: this is Canada’s second World Cup. In 1986 the team lost all three games, without scoring. Team Canada sings the national anthem before a friendly match against Qatar in Vienna on September 23. (Joe Klamar/AFP/Getty Images) “The benchmark of success, in a way, is a goal … If they get a win, that would be huge,” said soccer player Chris Jones, who will be in Qatar covering the World Cup for CBC Sports. “If Canada gets out of the group [stage]it’s incredible, this is our version of winning the World Cup.”
So who is likely to win?
Bookmakers favor Brazil to win the tournament, followed by Argentina, who have not won the Cup since 1986. France, the 2018 champions, are the third favourites, followed by England, whose fans are praying for their first World Cup title since 1966. Brazil is the bookmakers’ favorite to win the World Cup. Team captain Neymar is pictured in Rio de Janeiro on June 23, 2021. (Ricardo Moraes/Reuters)
Tell me more about the Canadian team. Who should I report to?
Star midfielder Alphonso Davies is one of the best young footballers in the world. Fans were left worried after the 22-year-old suffered a hamstring strain while playing for Bayern Munich over the weekend, but the German club told CBC News that Davis’ World Cup participation is “not in jeopardy.” Tajon Buchanan, 23, is also a rising international star playing for Belgian A-division side Club Brugge in the UEFA Champions League. “He’s a very exciting player. He’s a guy that opposing defenders hate to deal with because he’s so quick,” said soccer journalist John Molinaro, CBC contributor and founder of TFC Republic. Captain Atiba Hutchinson is overcoming a long injury layoff to play in his first World Cup. At 39, it will also be his last. “Emotionally, it will be fun to see him [play]said Andi Petrillo, host of CBC Sports’ Soccer North. Also look out for defensive midfielder Steven Eustakios and striker Jonathan David, both heading to Qatar off the back of standout seasons in Europe. “If you had to bet on which Canadian would score the first goal in World Cup history, I think Jonathan David is a pretty good bet,” Jones said. WATCHES | An update on Alphonso Davies’ injury:
Alphonso Davies injury update, Canada Soccer stars impress
Soccer North host Andi Petrillo takes you through how Canada fared around the world this week on Keeping Up with the Canadians.
You mentioned that there is controversy surrounding this World Cup. Tell me more?
There are many, including the heat, Qatar’s human rights record, Iran’s involvement and, as has become the norm at the World Cup, allegations of corruption involving FIFA. First, the heat: Expect to see players sweating it out in temperatures above 30 C. The tournament has been moved from June-July to November to keep it a little cooler. But this change also means many players are coming straight from the European and North American football seasons, with no break to acclimatise to the heat. “They’re probably going to be a little more sloppy and slower, so to speak, in their game than if they were in a perfect thermal state,” said Professor Stephen Cheung, an expert on environmental stress in human physiology at Brock University in St. Catharines, Ont. A migrant worker sleeps on a bench in front of the Khalifa International Stadium in Doha on October 15. Qatar’s treatment of migrant workers, including those building World Cup stadiums, has come under the spotlight in the run-up to the tournament. (Nariman El-Mofty/The Associated Press) That heat has also proven deadly for potentially thousands of migrant workers in Qatar, a fact disputed by the Qatari government, which brings us to another controversy: Qatar’s human rights record. Same-sex relationships are criminalized in the host country, with LGBTQ+ people facing arbitrary arrest and abuse by security forces, according to Human Rights Watch. Then there’s Iran’s involvement: in recent days, Ukraine and international activists have called on FIFA to ban Iran from participating because of its role in supplying Russia with weapons, as well as its crackdown on activists. FIFA responded by telling teams to “focus on football”, rather than human rights issues, at a time when the football body continues to be subject to corruption allegations. FIFA president Gianni Infantino recently wrote to the 32 teams participating in the World Cup, urging them to “focus on football” and not on human rights issues in Qatar. Infantino is pictured in Managua, Nicaragua, in August. (Inti Ocon/The Associated Press) The US Department of Justice alleges that FIFA officials took bribes in exchange for awarding Qatar the hosting rights in 2010. It is just one of many such accusations leveled against FIFA and its leadership in recent years.
Yes. OKAY. Anything else I should watch out for?
Two huge names in football are playing (probably) their last World Cup: Argentina’s Lionel Messi and Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo. Neither have ever won the World Cup, so lifting the trophy during their final tournament would be a huge deal for either captain – and their country’s fans. Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo, left, and Argentina’s Lionel Messi will likely play their last World Cup. Neither has won the trophy during their careers. (Albert Gea/Reuters)
Any tips for watching the World Cup?
You can see the program so far here. Unfortunately for Canadian fans, World Cup kickoff times are between 5 a.m. and 2 p.m. ET, which could make it difficult to tune in on a weekday (especially from a bar) unless your boss is also a football fan.
Finally, should I say soccer or football?
Although Canada, the USA and Australia call the game “soccer”, the World Cup is officially a “soccer” competition and FIFA is short for Fédération Internationale de Football Association. You can keep calling it football if you want — just be prepared to be corrected by fans of other teams. Watch the new CBC Sports Soccer North broadcast every week on CBC Gem, CBCSports.ca and the CBC Sports YouTube channel. Hosted by Andi Petrillo, Soccer North brings Canadians closer to the most interesting soccer headlines happening on and off the field. Soccer North will be LIVE following all of Canada’s matches in Qatar.
