Canada at the FIFA World Cup: Team profile and history
Read through Canada's World Cup history, records and memorable moments. Follow their road to the tournament with the latest on their fixtures, group and coach.
Canada will tackle Group B at the global finals
The Canucks are out for a first-ever tournament win
Learn all about the nation and their World Cup history
Canada will feature at the FIFA World Cup 2026™ as co-hosts, alongside Mexico and the USA, with the nation set to grace FIFA’s flagship tournament for a third time.
Les Rouges’ previous two World Cup campaigns came in Mexico in 1986 and at Qatar 2022™. Under the tutelage of American coach Jesse Marsch and buoyed by the backing of the home faithful, the Canadians will be intent on finally progressing beyond the group stage and will perhaps dare to dream even bigger.
Marsch, who was appointed in May last year, was nothing short of a trailblazer during his playing days, having lined up in the inaugural season of Major League Soccer back in 1996. After amassing over 300 appearances in North America’s top flight, he embarked on a coaching career that began with stints at Montreal Impact and New York Red Bulls before he headed to Europe, where he occupied the hot seat at Salzburg, Leipzig and Leeds United.
12 June: Canada v Bosnia and Herzegovina/Italy/Northern Ireland/Wales - Toronto Stadium
18 June: Canada v Qatar - BC Place Vancouver
24 June: Switzerland v Canada - BC Place Vancouver
Canada qualified as co-hosts alongside Mexico and the USA. The 2026 edition of the global bonanza, which will feature an expanded 48-team format, is set to be the biggest yet.
Confederation: Concacaf
Best World Cup: Group stage (1986, 2022)
Last World Cup: Qatar 2022 (group stage)
First World Cup: Mexico 1986
World Cup appearances: Three (1986, 2022, 2026)
Current run of successive qualifications: Two
World Cup hosts: 2026
Overall World Cup record: P6 W0 D0 L6 F2 A12
The North Americans’ first taste of World Cup action came at Mexico 1986. Having finishing top of a qualifying group that contained Guatemala and Haiti, the Canadians were drawn in a pool with France, Hungary and Soviet Union. After Jean-Pierre Papin’s header condemned Tony Waiters’ troops to a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Les Bleus, they then fell to consecutive 2-0 losses against Hungary and an Oleg Blokhin-inspired Soviet Union.
Canada secured their spot at the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ after topping their Concacaf third-round qualifying group. A daunting-looking pool lay in wait on Arab soil, and despite a chance-laden opening salvo that rattled Belgium, the Canadians fell just short, ultimately losing 1-0. In their next encounter, against Croatia, Alphonso Davies netted a historic goal in just the second minute in a contest in which the Canucks slipped to a 4-1 defeat. Their campaign came to an end with a 2-1 reverse against eventual semi-finalists Morocco.
Alphonso Davies is currently Canada’s only scorer at the World Cup, with his bullet header against Croatia at Qatar 2022 earning him a place in Canadian footballing folklore. However, with the wealth of attacking firepower in the team’s arsenal, he is unlikely to hold that distinction for much longer.
No fewer than 23 Canadian players have three World Cup appearances to their name, and a number of the current crop will no doubt be eager to add to their tally on the world’s biggest stage next year.
There was just a minute and seven seconds on the clock in the group-stage meeting between Canada and Croatia at Qatar 2022, which was contested at Khalifa International Stadium on Sunday, 27 November, when Alphonso Davies etched his name into his nation’s history books.
Shortly after the Croatians had got proceedings under way, Canada's goalkeeper, Milan Borjan, launched the ball towards Cyle Larin on the halfway line, and he promptly slipped it to Tajon Buchanan on the right flank. The jet-heeled wideman charged forward and, with time to weigh up his options, he delivered an inviting cross into the box that was met by the onrushing Davies, who stooped to send a powerful header past the helpless Dominik Livakovic.
The Canadian fans went wild after witnessing their side’s first-ever World Cup goal. However, despite opening the scoring, Les Rouges were eventually beaten 4-1. Davies remains Canada’s first and only World Cup goalscorer to date, as the only other time they have been on the scoresheet was courtesy of the own goal scored by Morocco’s Nayef Aguerd in their final outing in Qatar.
Canada are still searching for their maiden World Cup victory. However, with the quality in their ranks and the passionate support of those in the stands, you certainly wouldn’t bet against them setting that record straight at next year’s showpiece event.