Everything you need to know about Canada's team after its historic World Cup win — and what comes next

The Canadian men’s national soccer team won the biggest game in the program’s history on Thursday night, and in so doing welcomed countless Canadians on to the bandwagon.

The smashing 6-0 win over Qatar, which sets up another biggest-ever game against Switzerland next week, was a relief to long-time fans, but probably a curiosity to everyone else, which would include the bulk of the television audience. Here’s what they need to know to get up to speed.

How big a deal was Canada’s World Cup win?

It was huge. The Canadian men had qualified for the World Cup twice before, in 1986 and 2022, and had lost all six games. In their first game at this World Cup, on home soil in Toronto, they earned a first-ever point by drawing with Bosnia-Herzegovina. But this game, against a weak opponent in Qatar, was an almost-too-good opportunity to win a first World Cup match and secure passage to the knockout rounds. It was a game they simply had to win, and boy did they.

Six goals seems like a lot for a soccer game.

It sure is. No team from CONCACAF, which includes North and Central America plus the Caribbean, had ever scored more than four goals in a World Cup game. That includes soccer-mad Mexico and the United States, which is not soccer-mad but is quite large. The six goals included three from striker Jonathan David, who is now tied with Lionel Messi atop the scoring chart for this World Cup.

Wait. That Lionel Messi?

Yes. That one. Greatest player of all time, give or take a Pele or Maradona. That guy.

A record-setting win must have been cause for some kind of party.

Yes and no. Midfielder Ismael Koné had his leg broken horrifically by a tackle early in the second half, with Canada already up 3-0. The strange dichotomy of the night was on full display after the home team’s fourth goal, when Nathan Saliba had a muted celebration and then used his hands to make a number eight that he held aloft. Koné wears the number eight jersey for Canada. It was surreal. A perfect result for Canada, a game that made history in so many ways, and yet the players weren’t even sure how to react as they battered Qatar in what felt a little like vengeance. Stephen Eustaquio, who captained the squad on a night when it scored more goals than any team outside of Europe or South America had managed in a World Cup game, told reporters that he felt “empty.”

Ouch. Is Koné’s career in jeopardy?

Thankfully, no. Broken bones are usually better than torn ligaments or muscles, and, weirdly, three of Koné’s Canada teammates have suffered broken legs in recent seasons and returned to play. All three — Maxime Crepeau, Moise Bombito and Tajon Buchanan — were on the pitch in Vancouver.

Have we always been good at soccer? I do not recall us being good at soccer.

First, the Canadian women’s team has been quite good for a while. Olympic champions and all that. But the men, less so. That started to change about eight years ago, when this World Cup co-host role was announced, and when Canada Soccer moved John Herdman from his job coaching the women’s team to the men’s program.

He’s that good a coach?

He was a fine coach, but more importantly he was an excellent recruiter. Canada under Herdman convinced a bunch of young players, many of them immigrants, to commit to Canada. Jonathan David was born in Brooklyn to Haitian parents but moved to Ottawa as a child. Koné was born in the Ivory Coast but moved to Montreal while in grade school. Cyle Larin was born in Brampton to Jamaican parents. Alphonso Davies was born in Ghana to Liberian parents. These are the kinds of players who for decades played for anywhere other than Canada because the Canadian men’s team was lousy, but Herdman was able to make them the nucleus of a new generation wearing the Maple Leaf on their chests.

So, Herdman was the guy I saw acting kind of crazy on the sidelines last night?

Actually, no. Herdman left the program after Qatar 2022, in part because of long-running funding problems, the details of which aren’t worth rehashing here. Soccer Canada hired Jesse Marsch to replace him, and the 52-year-old American has kept the machine running nicely. He also seems to have a healthy dislike for U.S. Soccer, which is kind of handy given the times.

OK, so what does the result against Qatar mean?

Canada has one more game in the group stage, Wednesday in Vancouver against Switzerland. The four points amassed so far essentially guarantee they will be one of the 32 teams (of 48) to make it to the knockout rounds. But if they beat or draw Switzerland they would top their group, which means their first knockout game would be in Vancouver. (As would their second, if they got that far.) That would be a huge bonus.

Is that likely? Is Switzerland good?

Switzerland were the pre-tournament favourites to win the group, mostly because they are vastly more experienced and a regular participant at the World Cup and European Championships. They are 19th in the FIFA rankings, where Canada is 28th, an all-time high. But they only drew against Qatar, the same team Canada battered, and weren’t doing much at all against Bosnia-Herzegovina in their second match before a flurry of late goals gave them a 4-1 win. Canada has to like its chances to at least manage a draw, especially if they get Alphonso Davies back.

Alphonso Davies! I’ve heard of him! Why is he missing?

Davies is, yes, the one player on this team that is familiar to even the soccer-averse. The superstar left back blew an ACL in March, 2025, while playing for Canada. He worked his way back to fitness, and was playing for his professional club, Bayern Munich, in early May when he injured a hamstring. He’s been in a race to heal since, and Canada has been careful to bring him along slowly. They did not want to risk further injury, especially when they didn’t desperately need him. More time to heal is better.

Do they desperately need him now?

Oddly, no. It depends how much stock Marsch and company put in winning the group. He would have been more likely to return if they had to have a win (or draw) to advance. But Marsch is being intentionally cagey about his status, saying only that Davies is “available.” Whatever that means. I, too, am available.

When will we find out if he’s back?

Next Wednesday at about 3 p.m. ET, when the game against Switzerland kicks off.