Canada’s men’s soccer team kicks off first World Cup run in 36 years

It’s something that hasn’t happened since 1986 — Canada’s men’s soccer team is kicking off its run at the World Cup in host country Qatar.

And it’s not an easy game.

The luck of the draw put Team Canada up against Belgium, which is the number two-ranked team in the world right now.

The next game on Sunday against Croatia will also be tough and the third round-one game against Morocco on Dec. 1 is no cakewalk, either.

There are watch parties planned all over Metro Vancouver with fans ready to see what the national team, which FIFA ranks at 41 in the world, can actually do against top-tier national teams. He may be a professional broadcaster, but Sportsnet 650’s Dan Riccio says it’s hard not to be excited.

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“Of course I’m excited! I’ve been waiting for this my whole life, to see the Canadian men’s national team in a World Cup. It’s been a really tough go for Canada for a lot of years, to put it lightly,” he tells CityNews.

The last time the men’s national team even made it to CONCACAF World Cup qualifying was 1998 and Riccio says the journey to this World Cup was a long time coming.

“And to see Canada play against the Number Two team in the world in Belgium, while it is very daunting, it is also very exciting at the same time.”

Riccio expects the country will rally behind the underdogs, and that we can’t completely count Team Canada out.

“There are certain elements you need in a team to have ‘upset potential’ at a World Cup, and I think Canada does have that. We do have a world star in Alphonso Davies, but there’s a second one, too, in striker Jonathan David who plays for Lille in France’s Ligue 1, alongside players like Lionel Messi — you may have heard of him — and Neymar from Brazil. He is up there among that league’s top scorers along with those players.”

While Canada’s roster may not be as deep as others they will face in Qatar, Riccio says the team does have some game-breaking talent.

“If they can keep games close, maybe — just maybe — one of their star players can provide the difference in a crucial moment.”

But to temper expectations, Riccio says that even just scoring the first goal ever for Canada at a World Cup is a big deal.

“The first goal is just to score a goal. If they get a result against Belgium or Croatia, that is a massive, massive achievement for this group.”

And Riccio reminds that the 2026 World Cup is coming to North America.

“There will be games played on home soil, there will be a bigger tournament with 48 teams and, as one of the host countries, Canada will be in it again. These players are very young and the experience they gain over the next couple of weeks is going to do a lot for them come 2026 when, I think, they hope and plan to build on their success.”

Despite all the conversations around host Qatar and human rights this World Cup, Riccio says what the team has accomplished, even to get to this first game, is something special for Canadian soccer fans.

“I would hope everybody around the country is tuned in to see what this is all about. This is a group of men who have done something that has not been done for a long time in the world’s biggest sport for our country. That has to be recognized.”

Port Coquitlam hosts free watch parties for Canada games

In Port Coquitlam, the city’s mayor is inviting soccer fans to a free watch party Wednesday, with a sense of community as the main theme.

Brad West says the party starts at 11 a.m. at the Port Coquitlam Community Centre. Food, drink, huge screens, and some giveaways will be on deck for the event.

He tells CityNews he’ll be there cheering, along with everyone else, and says there will be more community parties for the next first-round games against Croatia and Morocco.

“We’ll see what happens after that. Hope springs eternal,” he said, with a chuckle. “But yeah, we will be showing all of the games that Canada is playing.”

West says he got the ball rolling on the watch party idea as soon as Canada qualified for the World Cup.

“It was one of the first things I said to staff. That day I said, ‘we’ve got to have a watch party.’ So I can take credit for this one but our staff have worked hard to pull it off and I really appreciate all their efforts,” he said.

“I think there’s something special about watching a major sporting event with other people.”

West believes Port Coquitlam is the only local municipality hosting a big, free World Cup watching party.

–With files from The Canadian Press