Why Canada’s game against Qatar has massive implications

VANCOUVER – World Cup matches don’t come any bigger for Canada than its contest against Qatar on Thursday at BC Place. 

Canada opened its account with a come-from-behind 1-1 draw vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina at Toronto’s BMO Field last Friday, a historic result that allowed the team to earn its first-ever World Cup point. A day later, Qatar fought to a 1-1 draw against Switzerland in San Francisco, which means all four teams in Group B are tied with one point apiece.  

Canada is No. 30 in the current FIFA world rankings, 11 spots below Switzerland, but well ahead of Qatar (No. 49) and Bosnia and Herzegovina (No. 63). The Canadians wrap up the group stage on June 24 vs. Switzerland at BC Place.  

The top two nations from each of the 12 first-round groups advance to the knockout stage of the World Cup, as do the eight-best third teams. Canada finds itself in a strong position going into the Qatar match as a win would put it on four points and almost guarantee it a spot in the knockout stage of the tournament.  

If Canada tops Group B, its round of 32 match would be in Vancouver (and a potential round of 16 game would also be in Vancouver). If it qualifies as a second- or third-place team, it will play all of its knockout games in the United States, losing its home advantage. That’s why the game against Qatar has massive implications for the Canadians. 

“It’s a home World Cup for us, but it’s only a home World Cup in the knockout stages if we finish top of the group, and that’s something that’s not forgotten in this [team],” fullback Alistair Johnston said.  

He added: “Obviously, you want to get out of the group, but the idea of potentially having a pathway where you’re staying in Vancouver as long as possible, keeping a home crowd on your side … It’s something that if we can stay in Canada as long as possible, we’re gonna be pretty happy with that.”  

Here are three things to look for in Thursday’s Group B encounter between Canada and Qatar at the World Cup. 

1. Will Alphonso Davies start or even play for Canada?  

The status of Canadian captain Alphonso Davies remains one of the best kept secrets at the World Cup. 

Davies is trying to come back from a longstanding hamstring issue that ruled him out for Canada’s opening match vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina. He worked out with the entire team for the first 15 minutes of Tuesday’s practice, the only portion of training that was open to the media. Only the players, coaching staff and Canada Soccer know if Davies was involved in full training for the rest of the session, and nobody confirmed as much to reporters after practice. 

Davies, 25, had previously been in “return to play protocol,” which means he’s been running and involved in less intense drills while also working on his own and with a trainer.    

A Canada Soccer official neither confirmed nor denied if Davies was still in “return to play” protocol on Tuesday, so we won’t know for sure if he’ll be fit to play against Qatar until 9:00 p.m. ET on Wednesday when coach Jesse Marsch holds his pre-game press conference at BC Place. 

Davies has been dealing with lingering hamstring injuries that forced him to miss a good chunk of the 2025-26 season with German club Bayern Munich — he has not played since early May when he suffered an injury setback in the UEFA Champions League semifinal. He also has also not played for Canada since March 2025, when he tore an ACL in the Concacaf Nations League finals. He has 15 goals in 58 games for Canada.  

“We all know what Phonzie brings in terms of his experience, the pace, just his ability to stretch the game,” Alistair Johnston offered. 

“And obviously he brings another level of star power as well to the team and it’s a chess piece that a lot of teams have to divert a lot of attention to dealing with him, because he can honestly dominate a game single-handedly down that one flank.” 

2. Jonathan David’s search for his 1st World Cup goal  

Cyle Larin was the goal-scoring hero for Canada in its World Cup opener.   

Larin was subbed on in the 76th minute and then scored two minutes later to help Canada earn a draw vs. Bosnia. In netting the leveller, Larin snapped a 14-game scoring drought for Canada that dated back to 2024.  

Larin’s heroics means Jesse Marsch has a big decision to make ahead of Canada’s next match vs. Qatar: Who’ll start up top?  

Does Marsch reward Larin for his efforts vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina and reinstall him in the starting 11 alongside Jonathan David? Does he go back to the Jonathan David-Tani Oluwaseyi duo for a second game in a row and bring Larin off the bench again? Or does he make a radical change and start Larin and Promise David together?   

Marsh has every reason to keep faith with Jonathan David, who is Canada’s all-time top scorer with 39 goals in 78 games. But David hasn’t scored in open play for Canada since last September. He scored twice from the penalty spot in March, his only goals in his last 10 appearances for Canada. 

What’s more, David looked poor against Bosnia and Herzegovina, spurning a glorious scoring chance in the first half before being subbed out in the 61st minute – it was the earliest he’s been pulled from a game during Marsch’s tenure in charge.  

Yet, David’s teammates still have complete faith in him and that he’ll score his first ever World Cup goal after being shut out vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina and failing to find the back of the net in three games at the 2022 tournament in Qatar. 

“One hundred per cent. He’s done it in the past; he’s going to continue to do it. We have no reason to doubt him, and he’s obviously even keel, he’s cool, he’s collected, and we have all the confidence in the world in him to score goals,” defender Joel Waterman stated.  

Midfielder Niko Sigur added: “We all know what he’s capable of, how intelligent he is, and he’s come up for us countless times when his back’s been against the wall and him scoring. So, we know we know what Jonathan’s about. We know he’s going to come [good].”  

3. Ismaël Koné: The key cog in Canada’s midfield  

Cyle Larin drew the headlines for Canada in its game vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina, but it was Ismaël Koné who took home man-of-the-match honours for Les Rouges even though he didn’t end up on the scoresheet. 

Koné, who turned 24 on Tuesday, was a major force in central midfield for Canada, controlling the tempo with his steady possession, winning duels against his Bosnian counterparts, and driving the attack forward in moments of transition with his probing runs. 

The soft-spoken, yet confident midfielder was directly involved in Canada’s buildup play, registering 79 touches (second most on the team), while completing 85 per cent of his passes. Koné led all players in passes in the final third of the pitch (23) and carries (17). He also contributed on the defensive side with a pair of interceptions. 

Coming off a strong debut season with Italian club US Sassuolo Calcio, Koné has a well-earned reputation as a physical two-way midfielder who runs himself ragged in covering a lot of ground for Canada.  

“I think he’s an amazing player, he’s been growing a lot, developing a lot,” fellow midfielder Stephen Eustáquio said of Koné, who has four goals in 41 games for Canada since his debut in 2022. 

Kone also has a high football IQ, forming an effective partnership in central midfield with the more experienced Eustáquio for Canada.  

They’re two very different players, but they complement each other well, and Koné will once again have to be at his very best if Canada hopes to unlock a Qatar side that will look to defend in numbers and challenge the hosts to break them down.  

“He’s a dribbler that makes him sometimes have to be creative and sometimes step out of the area as a midfielder that you’re supposed to be at. But at the same time, I think that’s a very good advantage for us as a team, and I just try to see where he goes and try to balance the team as much as I can, try to do the dirty work, and I think we’ve been very successful,” Eustáquio offered.