World Cup 2026

[EnvisionSaintJohn]

Originally Posted by Nite

MLS is why Canada has a competitive team now, nearly all the players came through MLS clubs including the coach.
Toronto FC Alone has 150 players from U-14 to the senior teams, the vast majority of which are Canadians.
and in total all the Canadian MLS teams have between 450 to 500 players at all levels.
The CPL has no such developmental pathway and half the amount of players overall compared to the 3 MLS clubs
They develop for years in the MLS Teams academy systems with the very best make it into MLS and beyond.
Before MLS Canada could have only dream of 🞵🞵🞵🞵 academies.

I don’t think it’s fair to say the MLS is the reason Canada has a competitive team now. The MLS very much remains a retirement league for the stars of Europe, not a development league for the soccer stars we will need to win a World Cup one day.

The CPL has no development pathway at the moment, because the MLS, with teams in our three biggest cities, takes all the attention when it comes to professional soccer in Canada. Had Canadian teams never entered the MLS, far more would be invested into the CPL and other levels of soccer in Canada… down to the grassroots, which matters the most.

Here’s an excerpt from Alphonso Davies’s Wikipedia Page, the greatest footballer in Canadian history:



I don’t think it’s the MLS academy system that we have to thank for Davies becoming a football star, but rather, the grassroots after school soccer program in Edmonton. Davies could have become an even better player and even bigger star had he been recruited by a European club instead of the Whitecaps. Canada should be investing more in the grassroots of soccer if we want to see more of our top players getting recruited by the top clubs in Europe… but we’ll clearly need much better Canadian academies, a better domestic league system, and much more invested in the grassroots for that to ever happen.

If the big 3 MLS clubs had the vision and national pride to sell their MLS franchises, they could become the big 3 of the CPL, and we could eventually see billions invested into professional soccer in Canada.

We’re never going to win a World Cup, or have nation wide soccer culture, unless we follow the countries that actually do have football culture… and step one towards being more like Europe and South America would be no more teams in the MLS.

Again, soccer is by far the most popular sport among newcomer Canadians, has been the most popular participation sport in Canada for a long time, and is already one of the most popular spectator sports in the country, soccer (or football’s ⚽️ )

I think it’s important to keep in mind that ratings for soccer viewership in Canada are not nearly as accurate as the ratings figures are for hockey, basketball, baseball, or the other football… because so much of what’s being watched by Canadians are non official streams of football matches from across the pond in Europe.

I think a stronger CPL could attract football coaches and trainers from around the world to work in Canadian Premier League academies, especially if Canada continues to be seen as a place where immigrants are more welcome, and where football ⚽️ isn’t as much of an afterthought as it is in the United States. There’s some very small European countries with strongly supported domestic football leagues, and I see no reason why the Canadian Premier League couldn’t become a much more important league in the footballing world… especially if the MLS owners ever have the balls to do the right thing and leave their American League to join the CPL and invest in the future of Canadian soccer.

If Canada makes it further than the US in the knockout round, or even ahead of some of the more established footballing countries, Canada will be taken more seriously by the footballing world and our Canadian Premier League will be seen as more desirable by playing, coaching, and developmental talent around the world. It’s just really hard to develop the CPL into a better league while the three MLS teams continues to exist in Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver.

[BlackDog204]

I have this really bad gut feeling that Canada is going to lose.

Davies is obviously not going to play at all. I wonder what the point of selecting him for the World cup team was.

[mousquet]

Finally. It's incredible how many opportunities they need to score.
They need accuracy in the 30 last yards.

[mousquet]

Ha ha... Alright. It's not like soccer will go as pop as hockey in your country, but it's still something.
It may help.

You guys will face either the Netherlands or Morocco in the next round, that will be something else.

[James Bond Agent 007]

Originally Posted by BlackDog204

I have this really bad gut feeling that Canada is going to lose.

This post did not age well.

[suburbanite]

What a way to end it. First half was giving shades of the gold medal hockey game with all of the chances. The team had some great attacking sequences even if the overall quality of the game was not top notch.

[EnvisionSaintJohn]

Originally Posted by BlackDog204

Davies is obviously not going to play at all. I wonder what the point of selecting him for the World cup team was.

lol. come again?


I must say tho… why does both TSN and Fox go out of their way to get British announcers? Ca-na-da just got our first knockout win in World Cup history… not Can-er-duh! 😅

[EnvisionSaintJohn]

I don’t think Canada has any shot in hell at beating France, and I don’t think we’d fare much against Morocco, but I think we actually have a chance to beat Germany and the Netherlands, which could get us all the way to the semi finals.

If the Netherlands and Morocco really beat up on each other, that could help our chances of an upset. While we have virtually no chance at beating France, Germany beating them for us is a distinct possibility. If Ecuador tied Germany… we might actually be able to beat them!

In Alphonso We Trust! 🙌

[Nouvellecosse]

^ Wait... how is it possible for Canada to beat Germany but not France while it's possible for Germany to beat France? If Germany is so good that they have a shot at France, then how could Canada have a chance at beating Germany?

[The Jabroni]

"The Usual Suspects" are going down!!

Whether it's by virtue of this "new format" or not, this win today is huge and historic!

[Franco401]

Originally Posted by Nouvellecosse

^ Wait... how is it possible for Canada to beat Germany but not France while it's possible for Germany to beat France? If Germany is so good that they have a shot at France, then how could Canada have a chance at beating Germany?

Upsets happen is the point I guess. It's still a weird point to make, but I guess the way I would make it is:I f France loses, that means the dam of football weirdness has burst wide open, and conventional logic goes out the window, making a Canada win seem more likely.

[EnvisionSaintJohn]

Originally Posted by Nouvellecosse

^ Wait... how is it possible for Canada to beat Germany but not France while it's possible for Germany to beat France? If Germany is so good that they have a shot at France, then how could Canada have a chance at beating Germany?

Because France is one of the top three odds on favourites to win it all. Meanwhile, Germany tied against Ecuador this tournament, and nearly lost against Ivory Coast… but they’re still 4 time World Cup champions, and Germany beating France is a lot more likely than Canada beating France. Like Franco said… upsets happen.


We’ll have a hell of a time making it past the Netherlands, let alone Morocco, but it’s still possible, and a lot more likely than us beating France in this tournament.

Would be absolutely epic to see us face off against the USA in “football” at Cowboy Stadium in Texas.. and win! May the Footballing Gods make it happen!

Let’s go, Canada, go!

[samne]

So amazing to see Canada make it out of Group Stage and then through to Round of 16.

Canada deserved to win today. South Africa are not a real test, but getting through in a do or die situation in injury time is. So full marks to Canada on that.

Odds are definitely against Canada in next round, but they’re there and the bar is now set higher for the future. Not just happy to be in WC anymore.

[Metro-One]

First ever WC goal
First ever WC tie
First ever WC point
First ever WC win (which was a blow out!)
Now, First Ever WC knockout win

No matter what, at this point Canada has proven itself to be a real team with depth worthy of participating at the WC.

[AuxTown]

Originally Posted by BlackDog204

I have this really bad gut feeling that Canada is going to lose.

Davies is obviously not going to play at all. I wonder what the point of selecting him for the World cup team was.

This didn't age well

Allez Les Rouges!

I was in Qatar for the 1st goal, Toronto for the first tie, Vancouver for the first win...but I just couldn't pull off L.A. What a historic win for the country! I'm looking forward to the next week watching everyone else sweat in the R32 while we await our big match on Saturday

[nickp]

Where is soccer in terms of Canadian sports? Obviously hockey and Gridiron football are 1-2

[Nouvellecosse]

^ In terms of viewership and fandom, I'd be surprised if it was ahead of baseball or basketball either. And probably behind curling and tennis. Might be at a similar level as LaCrosse and badminton though.

Maybe it's different for the younger generation, but for 80s and 90s kids like me, soccer was mostly seen as a grade school thing rather than part of the adult world where it was fairly niche. i think it was common in grade school because it didn't really require any specialized equipment or spaces since it could just be done in the school gym or outside field with just the balls and net, same as basketball.

[ericmacm]

Originally Posted by nickp

Where is soccer in terms of Canadian sports? Obviously hockey and Gridiron football are 1-2

This Metropolis think tank study from 2024 suggests that soccer and baseball are tied for #3 in Canada with pro basketball being the least popular. Hockey is overwhelmingly #1 with football being a distant #2.

I think there is a good chance we could see soccer eclipse baseball after this year.

[Nite]

.

[YOWetal]

Originally Posted by ericmacm

This Metropolis think tank study from 2024 suggests that soccer and baseball are tied for #3 in Canada with pro basketball being the least popular. Hockey is overwhelmingly #1 with football being a distant #2.

I think there is a good chance we could see soccer eclipse baseball after this year.

Baseball without the Jays is pretty weak but professional soccer is still way behind given the weakness of domestic leagues and diffusion and timezone changes for European leagues.

Fifa round of 16 on a Saturday afternoon should top Superbowl and Jays recent world series though. 10 Million+ ?