As political debates surrounding the United States and concerns over Mexico's role as a co-host dominate headlines ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Canada has quietly remained in the background.
That suits many Canadians just fine.
“Canada is often overlooked, and we’re okay with that,” Canadian football journalist Har Johal told BBC Sport. “We’ll smile, be polite, and let the countries south of us take the headlines.”
But beneath that modest exterior lies growing confidence that Canada’s most talented men's national team ever is ready to make its mark on football’s biggest stage.
The journey begins with their World Cup opener against Bosnia-Herzegovina on Friday.
Canada will host matches in Toronto and Vancouver, with both stadiums located in city centres, helping avoid some of the transportation challenges faced by other host cities.
However, supporters still face steep costs. FIFA’s ticket pricing structure remains a major talking point, while hotel prices in downtown Vancouver have surged dramatically. Some properties are charging more than $1,000 per night during the tournament, with matchday rates exceeding $2,000.
For comparison, average downtown hotel rates during Vancouver’s 2010 Winter Olympics stood at $359 per night.
Despite the costs, excitement is steadily building across the country.
“People are really getting behind Team Canada,” Johal said. “It’s growing every day. This is a great generation and the best Canadian team we’ve ever had.”
Canada's World Cup history has been far from memorable.
The nation has appeared at the tournament twice before, in 1986 and 2022, losing all six matches while scoring just two goals and conceding 12.
Expectations were high heading into Qatar 2022 after an impressive qualification campaign, but Canada struggled in a group featuring Belgium, Croatia and Morocco, with Croatia and Morocco eventually reaching the semi-finals.
Four years later, the landscape looks different.
Canada enters a more manageable group featuring Switzerland, Qatar and Bosnia-Herzegovina, leading many supporters to believe a place in the knockout rounds is a realistic target.
“People are saying there’s no reason Canada can’t top this group,” Johal said. “Maybe Switzerland are our biggest rivals now.”
Recent form, however, has been inconsistent. Canada exited the Concacaf Gold Cup after a quarter-final penalty shootout defeat to Guatemala and recorded draws against Iceland and Tunisia during the March international window.
Goals have also been difficult to come by, with Canada failing to score in four of their last nine matches.
Much of Canada's hopes will depend on captain Alphonso Davies.
The Bayern Munich star endured a mixed World Cup debut in Qatar, missing a penalty against Belgium before becoming the first Canadian man to score at a World Cup with a goal against Croatia.
Now 25, Davies remains the face of Canadian football, although injuries have disrupted his season. The defender has missed 15 matches for Bayern Munich and was unavailable during Canada's March fixtures due to a hamstring problem.
His return could be crucial.
“We saw Davies come back and score for Bayern,” Johal said. “He’s an integral part of this team. Davies is 100% the face of Canadian football.”
Alongside Juventus striker Jonathan David and Villarreal midfielder Tajon Buchanan, Davies forms part of a talented core that many believe represents Canada’s golden generation.
Veteran midfielder Jonathan Osorio believes the rise in football's popularity across Canada has played a major role in the national team's development.
Increased access to international leagues, the success of Canadian MLS clubs and improvements in grassroots football have helped inspire a new generation of players.
“Our grassroots began to improve. Everything began to improve as far as the sport in our country,” Osorio said.
“This team represents Canada more than any other national team in any sport. We really show how diverse Canada is.”
Head coach Jesse Marsch has brought a new identity to the Canadian squad since taking charge in May 2024.
The former Leeds United manager has earned praise for implementing an aggressive, high-energy style that complements Canada's athletic strengths.
“His football is very intense and physical, which suits our strengths as a team,” Osorio explained. “But it also allows us to play attractive and confident football.”
Marsch's straightforward personality has also made him popular among supporters.
“People like Marsch because he’s a no-nonsense character,” Johal said. “What you see is what you get.”
Canada’s style has often been compared to the nation’s hockey culture—fast-paced, physical and relentless.
“Canada are aggressive, they want to take the game to the opposition,” Johal added. “Players aren’t afraid to get stuck in.”
For a nation still searching for its first World Cup victory, expectations have never been higher.
According to Johal, simply competing will not be enough.
“Success has to be getting out of the group, or even topping it,” she said. “There’s no reason they can’t do it. If they don’t get out of the group, heads will roll.”
With a talented squad, home support and a favourable group, Canada has a golden opportunity to rewrite its World Cup story.
The politeness may remain, but on the pitch, this Canadian team is ready to make some noise.
