It took 36 years and two World Cups, but Canada’s men’s national team finally scored on soccer’s biggest stage.
Alphonso Davies, in the second minute, scored against Croatia on Sunday in the teams’ second match of the 2022 event to give Canada a 1-0 lead, earning redemption for his missed penalty against Belgium.
Canada is at the World Cup in Qatar after having last qualified for the event in 1986 in Mexico. At that tournament, Canada lost all three of its matches (to France, Hungary, and the former Soviet Union), while allowing five goals, but failing to score one.
The Canadians were dominant in CONCACAF qualifying, scoring 23 goals in 14 games and tying for top spot in the final group with fellow qualifiers Mexico. Six of those goals came against the Mexicans and the U.S., who are also in Qatar.
But scoring in qualifying and scoring in the World Cup are not the same thing. The manner with which the Canadians celebrated can certainly stand as proof of that.
