Will Canada have a better chance at the next World Cup?

Qatar 2022 was a momentous occasion for the Canadian soccer team, as it marked their second ever appearance in the ultimate tournament. The second occasion was in 1986, so it was also the first time many fans got to see them on the world stage.

Despite the early exit from the Winter World Cup, there are some reasons why Canada fans can be hopeful. The next tournament will be at home and many of the younger players will be in their prime by then.

Canada went home early from Qatar

Entering the World Cup this year, Canada found itself in one of the toughest groups. In , they were placed as outsiders to advance and were given long odds of more than 500/1 to advance and win the competition. In the end, they finished bottom of the group after three losses and only two goals scored.

Morocco and Croatia advanced through Group F, with Belgium joining Canada on the early plane home. While it turned out to be a damp squib after a lot of hype going into the event, Canada gained some much-needed experience against some of the best players in the world. They can learn from this and take it to the next tournament, where they will hopefully be placed in a kinder group.

Young players could have a bigger impact in 2026

There are many young players on the Canadian roster who will likely make a much bigger impact in the future. If you look at some of the more experienced coaches in the competition, they often favor experience over form in the World Cup as the pressure in these matches is phenomenal.

For example, England manager Gareth Southgate will often opt for Raheem Sterling over the likes of Phil Foden and Jack Grealish thanks to the Chelsea man’s vast experience at the highest level. Younger players need to build up their minutes gradually to cope with the weight that rests on their shoulders in these competitions.

Some of Canada’s best talent is still early in their careers, but should be at their peak by 2026. Alphonso Davies is the standout star, but there are also players like Jonathan David, Ralph Priso and Jahkeele Marshall-Rutty. watch out for.

Home Advantage helps

next tournament along with USA and Mexico, which means they have automatic qualification for the competition. This already gives the side an advantage, as they can start their preparations early. They don’t have to worry about their path to qualification and can instead think about how to tackle the main event.

The effect of having the home crowd on the side cannot be underestimated either. When Canada plays its World Cup matches, it will have a much larger portion of the support on its side than its opponents. Many nations have had success hosting the tournament, with Uruguay, Italy, Argentina, France, Germany and England all winning on home soil. Beyond. Brazil and Sweden both reached the final when they hosted the tournament.

Going out in the group stage in Qatar will have done Canada’s players a world of good. , they gained some much needed experience and may come back stronger when the competition comes to North America.

Source: sn.dk