How forgotten co-hosts Canada can silence their noisy neighbours at World Cup 2026 | OneFootball

There are times when Canada can seem the forgotten World Cup hosts. They have not staged the most celebrated World Cup of all or another of the most remarkable.

They have not sought to repel fans of other countries, turned a referee away, held an opposition striker for questioning at immigration, bombed a fellow competing nation. Canada’s conventional approach – helpful and welcoming – may be out of kilter with these times; with this United States.

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’s tournament too.

Albeit, perhaps, less of a reminder than might have been the case. It might have been Canada against Italy; except Italy did not qualify, 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.

The fixtures 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, they could advance to the quarter-finals before crossing the border.

But in the pool stage, the highest-profile match is Germany against Cote d’Ivoire. 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, after all, wore a USA cap, with 45-47, the number of Trump’s presidencies, on the side when he attended the inaugural meeting of the inaptly-named Board of Peace.

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Canada's head coach Jesse Marsch leads his players in Toronto (AP)

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’s 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.

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.

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Canada's Alphonso Davies, right, runs laps during a World Cup soccer training session in Toronto (AP)

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.

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 “eff” Croatia. It only served to galvanise Zlatko Dalic’s side.

Four years on, Canada have another outspoken manager, but this time in the defence of his adopted nation. Jesse Marsch was Bob Bradley’s assistant as the USA reached the last 16 of the 2010 World Cup; he might have been in charge of his homeland this time around, after being interviewed in 2023. He instead got the Canada job and has sprung to their defence. “If I have one message to our president, it’s lay off the ridiculous rhetoric about Canada being the 51st state,” he said last year.

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Canada warm up before a training session in Toronto (AP)

He has impressed off the pitch. On it, he has issues. Davies is unlikely to be fit. Jonathan David had a difficult first year at Juventus. Canada did not have to qualify but exited last summer’s Gold Cup at the quarter-final stage. They have been able to beat the United States under Marsch, a happy habit but one that may be irrelevant for this tournament. But their form offers little encouragement.

Canada enter the World Cup with only two wins in their last eight matches, though they have been draw specialists under Marsch. Their win percentage was nevertheless rather higher under Herdman. But this World Cup, unlike the last, presents an opportunity for Canada to plot a route some way into the tournament. And, in the process, for the co-hosts who seem consigned to the margins by their noisy neighbours and Fifa alike, to illustrate what they can bring in their own right.