Canada, one of the host nations, compete in Group Two of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Record:
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CONCACAF Gold Cup winners twice (1985 and 2000)
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Best World Cup finish: Group stage in 1986 and 2022
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FIFA ranking: 30
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Last World Cup appearance: 2022
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Nicknames: The Canucks, The Reds
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Top clubs: CF Montréal, Toronto FC, Vancouver Whitecaps
Qualification: Canada qualify automatically as a host nation. Thirteen matches will be played in Toronto and Vancouver.
Coach: Before taking over Canada in 2024, American Jesse Marsch managed the New York Red Bulls and several clubs within the Red Bull group (Salzburg, Leipzig) before a stint at Leeds United. Under his guidance, Canada reached the Copa América 2024 semi-finals in their first-ever appearance at the tournament.
Star player: Captain Alphonso Davies is normally the team's cornerstone. However, the Bayern Munich left back, who suffered a torn right knee ligament, has featured very little this season and appears far from full fitness — with his season now under further threat from a recent hamstring injury. Even if he makes it back in time, others will need to step up, including striker Jonathan David. But Canada's all-time leading scorer (39 goals) is also coming off a disappointing season at Juventus.
Ambitions: In previous World Cup appearances, Canada failed to pick up a single point. While Switzerland appear the most experienced side in Group Two, Qatar and Bosnia and Herzegovina look like achievable opponents for the Canucks to claim their first ever World Cup win, and perhaps reach the Round of 16.