They’re back. Thirty-two years after Canada sent a squad full of amateurs, indoor soccer players and little-league pros to Mexico ’86, they will entrust a global megastar and some entrancing allies with delivering Fifa World Cup success.
Belgium and Croatia, third and second respectively at Russia 2018, and Morocco await in a group Canada are not expected to escape alive. But who could have foreseen John Herdman’s men finishing above regional behemoths Mexico and USA in Concacaf qualifying’s Octagonal?
As Canada attempt to shock the sport, Fifa+ spotlights five players who could help them do so in Qatar.
Stephen Eustaquio
Position: Defensive midfielder
Age: 25
Born in Leamington, Canada to Portuguese parents, Eustaquio and his family moved to Nazare, Portugal when Stephen was seven. The youngster spent hours studying footballers, writing himself target notes to improve his game, and went on to represent the Portugal U-21s alongside the likes of Diogo Dalot, Rafael Leao, Diogo Jota and Joao Felix.
Despite being told he had a senior international future in the Seleção das Quinas, Eustaquio committed himself to the Canucks in 2019, much to the delight of Herdman. “He’s such a key player for us to dictate the tempo of the game. He embodies everything we want this football country to be moving forward.”
Eustaquio possesses fine ball control and passing, runs relentlessly and gets stuck in. The man Herdman also lauded as a “complete midfield general” recently joined Porto permanently after impressing during a loan spell at the Estadio do Dragao.
Tajon Buchanan
Position: Right-winger
Age: 23
Buchanan wasn’t showered in hype coming through like the ensuing stars in this compilation, nor, like them, did he make his international debut as a teenager. Those who felt he needed fattening up back then are, however, eating their words now. Buchanan grew from boy into man during a stint playing right-back for New England Revolution, whose coach Bruce Arena is a huge fan.
“He’s developed very well physically and defensively,” said the man who guided USA to the Korea/Japan 2002 quarterfinals. “You add that to his offensive qualities and you obviously have a very special talent. He’s a great one-on-one player, draws a lot of fouls. He's fast, dynamic.”
Buchanan was named Best Young Player at the Concacaf Gold Cup in 2021, helped the Revs win the Supporters Shield later that year and, after resisting the overtures of top-tier clubs in France, Germany and Italy, has excelled since relocating to Club Brugge.
Alphonso Davies
Position: Left-sided attacking midfielder
Age: 21
A human thunderbolt who’s wowed spectators and smashed records for Canada and Bayern Munich. Davies is already the most decorated Canadian male footballer of all time, and he’s threatening to enter a pantheon of national sporting greats featuring Donovan Bailey, Nancy Greene, Wayne Gretzky, Gordie Howe, Clara Hughes, Fergie Jenkins, Steve Nash, Christine Sinclair and Jacques Villeneuve among others.
He could do so, extraordinarily, before blowing out 22 candles if he thrives for the Canucks in Qatar. Supersonic, rock-shouldered and electrifying, he has been championed as one of the best players in the world by the likes of Hansi Flick, Herdman, Rio Ferdinand, David Alaba, Marcelo, Andy Robertson, Arjen Robben, Robert Lewandowski and Thomas Muller, who described him as "a phenomenon" and "one of the hardest players to stop I have ever seen".
Qatari-field opponents have been warned. Football fans should also beware: don’t blink when ‘Road Runner’ is on duty.
Jonathan David
Position: Forward
Age: 22
“I want to help change the game of soccer for Canadians,” declared David. “The World Cup is an amazing opportunity for us to do that.”
David’s credentials certainly give weight to that wish. He was magnificent as Lille registered one of the most stunning league-title triumphs in modern history in 2020-21, has hit 21 goals in 32 Canada caps and, in limited time, has collaborated like clockwork with Davies.
His acceleration, speed and movement make him difficult to mark, he employs craft to set up goals and as for scoring them, he’s known as ‘The Iceman’. Enough said.
Cyle Larin
Position: Forward
Age: 27
How did an aspiring goalkeeper, who played his first game up front in basketball shoes, end up as his country’s all-time leading marksman? It’s still a puzzle to its subject. Larin is now a puzzle Belgium, Croatia and Morocco must solve.
The Brampton, Ontario native scored 23 times in 45 games to propel Besiktas to the Turkish double in 2020-21, and hit 14 goals in 13 appearances for Canada during an exceptional 2021. Now at Club Brugge, Larin going up against the likes of teammates Dedryck Boyata and Brandon Mechele, and Antwerp’s Toby Alderweireld and Jan Vertonghen, would be intriguing.