TORONTO, Canada—2026 was supposed to be the year for Canada Soccer, as Les Rouges were set to co-host the FIFA World Cup, an opportunity that would see them compete in the biggest competition in the world for just the second time and first since 1986.
But John Herdman’s men had different plans, as after a historic win over Mexico on Tuesday night in the frigid conditions of Edmonton, Alberta — their first over El Tri since a Gold Cup quarter-final triumph in 2000 — the Canadian men’s national team are in prime position to qualify for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar and their journey here has been nothing short of remarkable.