Canada will host 13 matches during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with six games in Toronto and seven in Vancouver, organizers confirmed [1, 2]. The Canadian men's national soccer team will play its first-ever World Cup match on home soil on June 12, 2026, facing Bosnia-Herzegovina [1, 2].
Canada is placed in Group B alongside Qatar and Switzerland for the tournament [1, 2]. The team has qualified following two prior World Cup appearances in 1986 and 2022, in which Canada played six matches but failed to win any, losing all six [1, 2]. In 2022, Canada was eliminated at the group stage after losses to Belgium and Croatia [1, 2].
Canada’s men’s soccer has grown significantly, with nearly one million registered players as of 2026 [1, 2]. The country’s FIFA ranking has also improved drastically, rising from 116th in 2015 to a peak of 26th by 2025 [1, 2]. Canada qualified for the 2022 World Cup by finishing ahead of Mexico and the United States in the CONCACAF qualifying tournament [1, 2].
Coach Jesse Marsch expressed confidence going into the 2026 World Cup and set clear expectations for the team. "We want to win the World Cup. That may sound ridiculous, but why would we go into any tournament at any time and think, ‘Yeah, let’s see how we do, and maybe we get one win. Or can we score a goal?’" Marsch said [1]. He added the squad's standards are rising and that while challenges remain "it’s possible we get knocked out of the group," the team believes in itself and its players [1].
The 2026 Canadian squad includes star players Alphonso Davies and Jonathan David [1, 2]. The tournament marks another milestone in Canada’s football history, which dates back to the first recorded match between Carlton Cricket Club and Toronto Lacrosse Club in 1876 [1, 2].
Canada’s opening match against Bosnia-Herzegovina on June 12 will be the country’s first time hosting a World Cup game on home soil [1, 2].