They have not sought to repel fans of other countries, turned a referee away<\/a>, held an opposition striker for questioning at immigration, bombed a fellow competing nation. Canada\u2019s conventional approach \u2013 helpful and welcoming \u2013 may be out of kilter with these times; with this United States.<\/p>\n Everyone else can be obscured by the publicity-hungry Trump administration. For the 51st state, as the expansionist, avaricious American president has called the northern neighbour, a first game may be a reminder to the rest of the world that this is Canada\u2019s tournament too.<\/p>\n Albeit, perhaps, less of a reminder than might have been the case. It might have been Canada against Italy; except Italy did not qualify<\/a>, so Bosnia and Herzegovina provide the opposition in Toronto. Which might supply an opportunity but also contributes to the sense that Canada have been rather short-changed by Fifa<\/a>.<\/p>\n The fixtures<\/a> show five group games apiece in Vancouver and Toronto, with two knockout matches by the Pacific Ocean, one near Lake Ontario. There is the possibility England will be in Toronto for the last 32, or Argentina in Vancouver for the last 16. Canada have the carrot of knowing that, if they win Group B<\/a>, they could advance to the quarter-finals before crossing the border.<\/p>\n But in the pool stage, the highest-profile match is Germany against Cote d\u2019Ivoire. Croatia and Belgium visit once each. Some of the fixtures could rather blend into the background. Canada may have been shortchanged in the prioritisation of all things American. Fifa president Gianni Infantino<\/a>, after all, wore a USA cap, with 45-47, the number of Trump\u2019s presidencies, on the side when he attended the inaugural meeting of the inaptly-named Board of Peace. <\/p>\n Infantino has not yet been spotted in any Mark Carney merchandise. But then the Canadian Prime Minister, like fellow social democrats or liberals, appears less to Infantino\u2019s liking than despots and would-be dictators. Carney has talked of the importance of the middle powers in international relations, a counterweight to the superpowers, more of an axis of reason and fairness.<\/p>\n Arguably, Canada are yet to reach the rank of a middle power in football, though the next month or so could change that. A pool containing Bosnia, Qatar and Switzerland offers the possibility of progress; perhaps even, if Canadian ambitions are realised, in top spot.<\/p>\n So far, though, they have the unenviable record of playing the joint most matches in the World Cup without picking up at least a point, along with El Salvador. There have been six, split equally between 1986 and 2026. Canada were minnows four decades ago, owing their place in part to the fact Mexico qualified automatically as hosts.<\/p>\n They were a better side in 2022, but had the misfortune to be pitted against two of the eventual semi-finalists, Croatia and Morocco, plus a Belgium team who came third in the previous tournament. They lost all three games but while only Croatia routed them, that 4-1 triumph came after Canada led through Alphonso Davies. It followed an uncharacteristic display of Canadian tactlessness that rebounded on them: manager John Herdman, after the defeat to Belgium, said his side were going to \u201ceff\u201d Croatia. It only served to galvanise Zlatko Dalic\u2019s side.<\/p>\n![\"Canada's](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/canada\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/download.-1..jpeg\")
Canada’s head coach Jesse Marsch leads his players in Toronto (AP)<\/p>\n![\"Canada's](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/canada\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/download.-2..jpeg\")
Canada’s Alphonso Davies, right, runs laps during a World Cup soccer training session in Toronto (AP)<\/p>\n
![\"Canada](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/canada\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/download...jpeg\")
Canada warm up before a training session in Toronto (AP)<\/p>\n