Canada prepares for the 2026 World Cup!
Preparations for the 2026 World Cup are well underway for Canada’s men’s national team, as the side played two friendly matches versus South American competition in the November international break.
The first match, against Ecuador on Nov. 13, ended in a 0-0 draw. Canada went a man down early in the match, after Ali Ahmed’s high boot struck Alan Franco of Ecuador. The dismissal was questioned by Canadian head coach Jesse Marsch, who felt the foul merited a yellow card rather than a red. The match was hard fought, with Ecuador having over 75 per cent of the possession against Canada’s 10 men.
The second match of the international break, played in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., on Nov. 18, saw Canada defeat a strong Venezuelan team 2-0. After a goal halfway through the first half by Ismaël Koné of Canada, the match was a back-and-forth affair. Debutant Alfie Jones started the match at centre back and offered the side a sense of stability along with a calming and assuring presence in the back line. The second half saw more action as Venezuela pressed forward for an equalizer. The back four of Jones, Richie Laryea, Derek Cornelius and Niko Sigur, who stepped in for the injured Alistair Johnston, made great defensive plays and took a step forward as a defensive unit, with Laryea and Sigur providing crucial attacking and creative threats on the wings. Venezuela failed to create a real threatening attack for most of the first period of the second half and things got worse for the Venezuelan side in the 57th minute when substitute David Martinez was sent off for violent conduct. Unfortunately, the Canadian side saw red soon after, as goalscorer Koné, was sent off — controversially once again. The game that followed was a chippy but close match, but it was ultimately put to bed by rising Canadian superstar Promise David, who scored Canada’s second in the 83rd minute.
These outings by Canada moved them up one spot if the FIFA World Ranking, tying the highest they've ever been at #27 in the world. Overall, the two good - but discipline-issue riddled - performances by the men in red show that Canada is really trying to make a push ahead of the upcoming World Cup, and has adapted well to the direct, aggressive style from Jesse Marsch. These two matches make it three unbeaten for the side, who are looking to make it out of the group stage at a World Cup for the first time in their history.
-Noel Kendle, WYSA
