The Canadian national men’s football team’s qualification for World Cup 2022 was a major achievement. This was the second time the team reached the sport’s biggest event after the first and only appearance in the 1986 World Cup held in Mexico. Unfortunately, the team failed to score a single goal in all three opening games. The team’s performance in the Qatar event was not impressive either.
Although Canadians were hopeful for the team to progress past the group stages, this was not the case. The team had to face top teams, including Belgium, Croatia, and Morocco. With Morocco and Croatia having progressed to the semi-finals, it shows the kind of competition the Canadian team has to overcome.
Looking at the odds on most sportsbooks, these three teams were the favourites which is no surprise since they already have an impeccable track record. However, for Canadians who were interested in betting on their team, there were several betting markets to explore other than the outright winner option. For instance, top betting sites such as Fezbet sportsbook has betting markets such as ‘First Team To Score’ and ‘Both Team To Score.’ Over/Under markets were also excellent, seeing that each match has at least one goal.
In their first World Cup 2022 match against Belgium, Canada lost 0-1. The second match against Croatia was also a loss 1-4, and they also lost to Morocco 1-2. This led to the Canadian team being eliminated in the group stage.
Canadian Goal Scorers in the World Cup 2022
The Canadian soccer team scored only one goal in the 2022 World Cup, and the second was an own goal by the opponent. The first goal was against Croatia, which Alphonso Davies scored. The 22-year-old winger plays for Bayern Munich; this was his first-ever World Cup goal.
The second Canadian goal was an own goal by the Morocco player Nayef Aguerd. This goal came in the 40th minute, during which Canada was already 0-2 down. This score rejuvenated the team’s morale in the second half, but they didn’t net any goal in the second half. The games ended in a 2-1 win for Morocco.
Highlights and Notable Moments
Although the overall performance of the Canadian team was not what the fans had hoped for, Davie’s first goal in the World Cup was such as delight. This historical score came 2 minutes into the game and was welcomed with celebrations from supporters in Vancouver and across Canada.
What’s Next for Canada Soccer Team?
By the end of the group stage, Canada came in the fourth position of Group F with zero points. Nevertheless, it is no doubt that the Canadian matches were fun to watch, considering this was their first World Cup since 1986. It will definitely take them time to get to the level of teams like Belgium and Croatia, but the fact that they qualified to play in Qatar was a step in the right direction. Most fans are hopeful that the team has gained several valuable lessons ahead of 2026 when they will share hosting duties with the United States and Mexico.