Canada qualify for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar

What felt like the impossible just a few years ago is now a reality.

The Canadian men’s national team have done it, officially booking their ticket to Qatar 2022 thanks to a 4-0 win over Jamaica on Sunday afternoon at BMO Field. It’s just the second time that Canada’s men have qualified for a FIFA World Cup – and first since 1986.

It’s tough to define what this, officially qualifying for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, could mean for the sport in our country, but what’s certain is that this success is bound to have a ripple effect across not just Canada, but all over the world – especially on the heels of the Canadian women’s national team Olympic Gold this past summer.

“Canada soccer is growing rapidly right now. It’s rapid,” said Toronto FC midfielder Jonathan Osorio at the BMO Training Ground last week. “Obviously, our run is helping that. It’s just getting the attention of the rest of the country, and I honestly think the world as well because the world is taking notice. It’s incredible to be part of [this] journey.”

As many have pointed out, the Canadian men’s national team are the story of the FIFA World Cup – and they’re not finished yet.

Head coach John Herdman wants his squad to finish this qualifying campaign in style by finishing final round of World Cup Qualifying atop the Concacaf region. In order to do so, Canada will have to pick up all three points on Wednesday in Panama.

And if they’re able to do that, it’ll send a message. It’ll send a message that says we’re not just content to qualify anymore, not like ‘86 when they lost all three of their World Cup group matches without scoring a single goal. They have bigger and greater objectives internally that have been discussed, and at this point, how can we doubt they won’t achieve them?

As Herdman always says, this is ‘New Canada’ – and they’ve proven that to be true along every step of this journey thus far.

On a day like today, I'm thinking about former players like Dwayne DeRosario, Julian De Guzman, Paul Stalteri, Jim Brennan, Craig Forrest etc., all of those who came before who paved the way for this new generation, and I can't imagine what they are feeling.

But let’s also pay tribute to the present. In no particular order, below are the 25 players that were named to the Canada squad for the March international window, also known as the group that got the job done:‍

Sam Adekugbe, Milan Borjan, Tajon Buchanan, Lucas Cavallini, Derek Cornelius, Maxime Crépeau, Jonathan David, Stephen Eustáquio, Liam Fraser, Christián Gutiérrez, Doneil Henry, Junior Hoilett, Atiba Hutchinson, Alistair Johnston, Mark-Anthony Kaye, Scott Kennedy, Ismaël Koné, Cyle Larin, Richie Laryea, Liam Millar, Kamal Miller, Jonathan Osorio, Dayne St. Clair, Iké Ugbo, Steven Vitória‍

Honourable mentions to those that featured throughout this journey or were part of a match day squad.‍

Alphonso Davies, Ricardo Ferreira, Zachary Brault-Guillard, Frank Sturing, Samuel Piette, David Wotherspoon, Charles-Andreas Brym, Theo Corbeanu, Jacob Shaffelburg, Jayson Leutwiler, James Pantemis, Joel Waterman, Jayden Nelson

Enjoy Canada. What felt like the impossible just a few years ago is now a reality.