Simply getting to the World Cup for the first time in 36 years was seen as reason enough to celebrate, but Canadian soccer fans still had hopes the men's team might qualify beyond the group stage in Qatar.
In the end, it wasn't close. Canada lost three games out of three and finished without a point, joining Qatar as the only teams failing to do so in the tournament.
Though they fell short, the Canadian men showed flashes — dominating Belgium in the opening game despite the loss, giving Croatia a scare with a spectacular first-ever World Cup goal — and fans and media across the country now have a sense the team belongs on the world stage.
With young stars like Alphonso Davies, Jonathan David, Tajon Buchanan and the rest, the future is bright for 2026 — when Canada is set to co-host the World Cup alongside U.S. and Mexico.
Here are some of the best reflections from Canada's World Cup campaign:
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