Here's when Canada will find out its FIFA World Cup opponents
Canada is a little bit closer to knowing who they’ll be taking on in the FIFA World Cup next year.
While qualifying is still going on, we finally have a draw date set for next year’s 48-team event.
The draw will be led by American president Donald Trump at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., with a date set for Dec. 5. The draw was originally reported to be held at the Sphere in Las Vegas.
If you’re curious why a political leader might be involved with the draw, FIFA president Gianni Infantino and Trump have cozied up to each other in recent years in the buildup to the tournament. Trump was onstage along with Chelsea during their trophy presentation earlier this year for the FIFA Club World Cup final.
There are four pots based on seeding, with each of the 12 groups getting one team from each pot. Canada and co-hosts Mexico and the United States will be ranked in Pot 1, along with nine of the highest-ranked qualified teams.
Where will Canada play its FIFA World Cup matches?
Canada is scheduled to play three group-stage matches, in Toronto on June 12 and in Vancouver on June 18 and 24. The Canadian national team could also play up to an additional two knockout-round matches on Canadian soil, in the Round of 32 and the Round of 16, both in Vancouver.
The remainder of the 48-team tournament will be held throughout Mexico and the United States, with New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium hosting the final.
Who has Canada played in the past?
Canada has played six men’s FIFA World Cup matches in their history, three in 1986 and three in 2022. As any Canadian soccer diehard might tell you, they’ve gone 0-6 in those matches.
In 1986, they fell to the Soviet Union, Hungary, and France, while they lost to Belgium, Croatia, and Morocco in their last run out a little over two years ago.
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