Eustáquio's Canada thrash Lopetegui's Qatar, big World Cup step | OneFootball

Canada took a decisive step toward qualification for the next stage of the 2026 World Cup in the early hours of Friday, thrashing Julen Lopetegui’s Qatar 6-0 in a match played in Vancouver.

Jonathan David scored a hat-trick, securing Canada’s first ever win at a World Cup and putting the co-hosts top of Group B, ahead of Switzerland.

Despite an emphatically dominant display, the Canadian team suffered a significant setback. Ismael Koné went off injured early in the second half, leaving the pitch with a red inflatable boot on his left leg following a very heavy challenge from Assim Madibo. The Qatar player was sent off, leaving his team down to ten men.

Shortly after coming on to replace Koné, Nathan Saliba produced one of the moments of the match by converting a direct free-kick that all but sealed the result. The scoreline became even more emphatic with an own goal from Mohamed Manai, before Jonathan David wrapped things up deep into stoppage time by completing his hat-trick with a left-footed strike.

Qatar had already been reduced to ten men in the 34th minute, when Homam Ahmed was sent off for a foul on Tajon Buchanan. The incident was initially given as a penalty, but a VAR review led to the decision being overturned, as the foul had occurred outside the box.

With this result, Canada and Switzerland both have four points after two matches, but the Canadians sit top of Group B thanks to their superior goal difference.

In the final round of group-stage matches, Canada will face Switzerland on 24 June in Vancouver, while Qatar will take on Bosnia and Herzegovina in Seattle.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇵🇹 here.