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Greetings. Teachers and students alike may like to view two important posts: a Welcome from the Creator post and a How to Use this Site post.

Updates from World Cup 2026

Canada has lost their round of 16 game against Morocco. They showed some strong play in the first half but Morocco converted on their chances in the second half.

FIFA World Cup 2026 – Canada’s knockout schedule

All times are local to the match venue

28 June, 12:00 PDT – South Africa 0-1  Canada (Stephen Eustáquio 90’+2′) – Inglewood (LA, USA)

4 July, 1:00 pm EDT – Morocco 3 – 0 Canada – Houston (USA) – Canada loses and Morocco will advance to the quarter final.

Read article:
Canada’s magical World Cup run hinges on slaying one of modern game’s giants
https://www.cbc.ca/sports/soccer/worldcup/fifa-world-cup-canada-morocco-chris-jones-june30-9.7254353

Stephen Eustaqio Canada hero knockout game against South Africa

Stephen Eustáquio scored the winner against South Africa in extra time (minute 92) to become the hero of the game.

Canada had never won a knockout game prior to this World Cup. Now they advance to the Round of 16.

Eustáquio is a midfielder who played for Porto and was a youth national for the Portuguese team.

FIFA World Cup 2026 – Canada’s group stage schedule / results for Les Rouges

All times local

  • 12 June, 15:00 EDT – Canada 1-1 Bosnia and Herzegovina (Cyle Larin ’78; Jovo Lukić 21′) – Toronto (CAN)
  • 18 June, 15:00 PDT – Canada 6-0 Qatar (Cyle Larin 16′, Jonathan David 29′, 45’+3′, 90’+2′, Nathan Saliba 64′, Mohamed Manai og 75′) – Vancouver (CAN)
  • 24 June, 12:00 PDT – Switzerland 2-1 Canada (Rubén Vargas 46′, Johan Manzambi 57′; Promise David 76′) – Vancouver (CAN)

This information is from Olympics.com

The Rise of Canadian Soccer from Kids’ Sport to National Prominence

Great article on the growth of professional soccer in Canada called “How accessibility and alignment turned Canada into a soccer power.”
Excerpt:
“When Dino Rossi volunteered to coach his son’s under-6 soccer team, he had no idea the journey he was embarking upon.
It was 2006, and the Canadian soccer landscape looked much different than it does today. Soccer was a popular recreational sport for kids. But there were no top-flight professional teams, no clear player development path, and no alignment in the grassroots game.
That was reflected at the national-team level. The men’s team was nowhere near returning to the FIFA World Cup; the women’s team was years away from becoming Olympic medallists.
But Rossi wasn’t thinking about all that as he signed up his son with North Mississauga SC, just west of Toronto. Sure, he was a fan of the national teams, but all he was looking to do was help out locally.
As it turned out, though, stepping into that role lit a fire in him—and he hasn’t looked back.
Over the ensuing two decades, he would become a key player in what’s been a transformational period in Canadian grassroots soccer.”
Read more at olympics.ca

Messi amazes, contends for golden boot

Messi is off to a great start, scoring a total of 5 goals so far, which came during Argentina matches against Algeria and Austria.
Read more in our Golden Boot blog post.

Updated June 22 / image courtesy ESPN

Canada beats Qatar, faces Swiss

Canada blew out Qatar in their second match setting expectations high for the rest of their games and all but ensuring they will likely go through to the round of 32.
Read more about Team Canada on this site.

Graphic via chatGPT

Messi amazes, contends for golden boot

Messi is off to a great start, scoring a total of 5 goals so far, which came during Argentina matches against Algeria and Austria.
Read more in our Golden Boot blog post.

Updated June 22 / image courtesy ESPN

More from the World Cup: Promise David Scoring Hero against Swiss

VIDEO: Promise David’s promise to himself while playing in Estonia in 2023.

The Club: He signed with Nõmme Kalju in Estonia in early 2023.Breakout Performance: He started in the club’s U-21 squad and absolutely dominated, scoring 22 goals in 19 third-tier outings. He was subsequently promoted to the first team in the Estonian Premium Liiga, where he netted 21 goals in 39 league appearances.

The “2026” Locker Note: While grinding through the lower levels in Estonia, David wrote the year “2026” in his locker to visualize his ultimate goal of making the World Cup.

Messi Makes Good

A closer look at his 2026 World Cup campaign reveals the details of his goals:

  • Algeria (Group Stage): Scored a hat-trick (3 goals) in the opening 3-0 victory.
  • Austria (Group Stage): Scored a brace (2 goals) in a 2-0 win.
  • Historic Milestone: With his second goal against Austria, Messi surpassed Germany’s Miroslav Klose to become the all-time leading goalscorer in men’s World Cup history

Ronaldo Who?

Regarding the goal scoring leaders of all time; do you know who Ronaldo is? If you are unsure, the original Brazilian Ronaldo is the one on this list. Read about him here:
Who is the original Ronaldo? https://ca.sports.yahoo.com/news/whos-original-ronaldo-brazil-legend-163349518.html

About Team Canada

Are you ready for the FIFA World Cup? Let’s learn about the Canada MNT. They are the Men’s National Team and they rock.

Quick Take

Canada still has a young program. They have risen through world rankings, from 72nd in 2020 all the way into the top 30. They have first league pro players all across Europe and MLS.

Yet the next step, the Qatar World Cup was tough – their group was really challenging. Despite a first place finish in North American championships in 2022 (when they topped the CONCACAF qualifying table). Are they ready to advance from the group and go deep?

Odds for 2026

Canada is ranked 30th in the world. Their chances of getting out of the group are good. Especially because the tournament has expanded to 48 teams, meaning 32 teams will advance (the top two from each group plus the eight best third-place finishers). Professional sports rank sites says Canada has a strong fighting chance to make history on home soil.

Canada Soccer – Program History

Some people think Qatar was the origin of the teams’ World Cup appearance. But they are wrong. Canada first competed in the FIFA World Cup back in 1986 in Mexico.

Canada Soccer, the governing body of the sport in Canada, was founded as the Dominion of Canada Football Association in July 1912.The organization joined FIFA the same year in December 1912 and later became a founding member of CONCACAF in 1961.

Read more about the rise of the Canadian men’s soccer team.

Read More

Read more

Background image: BCE Place stadium in Vancouver, BC.

Canada Soccer – Program History

Illustration of foot-ball in Canada: Hamilton vs Toronto
Date 1874 by Frederic M. Bell-Smith
Source The Canadian illustrated News [Vol. 10, no. 18

Team Canada Featured Players

Let’s look at some forwards, midfielders, defense and the Team Canada goalies.

Alphonso Davies

Profile sourced from Canada Soccer:
https://canadasoccer.com/profile/5810/alphonso-davies

Birthday: 2 November 2000 (25)
Height: 183cm
Born in: Gomoa Buduburam, GHA
Grew up in: Edmonton, AB

The Trailblazer

  • Position: Left-Back / Winger (FC Bayern Munich)
  • The Story: The superstar captain of the team, known worldwide for his world-class pace. He even scored Canada’s first-ever Men’s World Cup goal in 2022. He loves to show off his Canadian roots by playfully stick-handling soccer balls with a hockey stick!
  • The Takeaway: His journey shows the power of “embracing your natural gifts while maintaining a healthy sense of fun and life balance.”

Question: Will Alphonso play against Switzerland?


Alphonso Davies

Profile sourced from Canada Soccer:
https://canadasoccer.com/profile/5810/alphonso-davies

Birthday: 2 November 2000 (25)
Height: 183cm
Born in: Gomoa Buduburam, GHA
Grew up in: Edmonton, AB

The Trailblazer: Alphonso Davies

  • Position: Left-Back / Winger (FC Bayern Munich)
  • The Story: The superstar captain of the team, known worldwide for his world-class pace. He even scored Canada’s first-ever Men’s World Cup goal in 2022. He loves to show off his Canadian roots by playfully stick-handling soccer balls with a hockey stick!
  • The Takeaway: His journey shows the power of “embracing your natural gifts while maintaining a healthy sense of fun and life balance.”


Maxime Crépeau

Profile sourced from Canada Soccer:
https://canadasoccer.com/profile/824/maxime-crepeau/

Birthday: 11 May 1994 (32)
Height: 185 cm
Born in: Greenfield Park, QC
Grew up in: Candiac, QC

The Brickwall: Maxime Crépeau

  • Position: Goalkeeper (Orlando City SC / from Montreal, QC)
  • The Story: Just named Canada’s starting goalkeeper. Missed 2022 due to a devastating leg injury right before the tournament; completed an inspiring comeback to earn the top spot.
  • The Takeaway: His story is a classic testament to “persistence paying off” and “reaping the rewards of relentless hard work.”


Jacob Shaffelburg

Profile sourced from Canada Soccer: https://canadasoccer.com/profile/5202/jacob-shaffelburg/

Birthday: 26 November 1999 (26)
Height: 181cm
Born in: Kentville, NS
Grew up in: Port Williams, NS

Maritime Messi: Jacob Shaffelburg

  • Position: Winger / Forward (Nashville SC)
  • The Story: A lightning-fast player who brings massive energy down the sidelines. He has become a huge fan favorite across Canada, famous for his high-tempo style and ability to create scoring chances out of thin air.
  • The Takeaway: He proves that “bringing infectious enthusiasm and a high-energy attitude” can instantly win people over.


Jonathan Osorio

Profile sourced from Canada Soccer: https://canadasoccer.com/profile/2433/jonathan-osorio/

Birthday: 12 June 1992 (33)
Height: 175cm
Born in: Toronto, ON
Grew up in: Brampton, ON

The Loyal Veteran: Jonathan Osorio

  • Position: Midfielder (Toronto FC)
  • The Story: The heart and soul of the squad with 90 international appearances. As the oldest veteran on the roster, he provides vital locker-room leadership and serves as a bridging mentor for the younger players.
  • The Takeaway: His long career is a shining example of “loyalty, dedication to your community, and staying true to your roots.”


Stephen Estaquio

Profile sourced from Canada Soccer: https://canadasoccer.com/profile/5005/stephen-eustaquio/

Birthday: 21 December 1996 (29)
Height: 175cm
Born in: Leamington, ON
Grew up in: Leamington, ON / Nazaré, POR

The Maestro: Stephen Eustáquio

  • Position: Midfielder (FC Porto)
  • The Story: The tactical “brain” of the Canadian midfield. He commands the field, reads the opponent’s moves steps ahead, controls the tempo of the matches, and quietly links the defenders to the goal scorers.
  • The Takeaway: His playstyle emphasizes “the value of emotional intelligence, keeping a cool head, and thinking before you act.”


Jonathan David

Profile sourced from Canada Soccer: https://canadasoccer.com/profile/6522/jonathan-david/

Birthday: 14 January 2000 (26)
Height: 175cm
Born in: Brooklyn, NY, USA
Grew up in: Ottawa, ON

The Iceman: Jonathan David

  • Position: Forward (Lille OSC)
  • The Story: One of Canada’s all-time leading goal scorers. Coaches and teammates call him “The Iceman” because he remains absolutely deadpan, completely grounded, and totally unbothered by high-pressure situations.
  • The Takeaway: He shows students the immense benefit of “staying humble, block out the noise, and remaining calm under extreme pressure.”

Team Canada Full Roster

Let’s look at the position players on a team loaded with talent.

While the standout stars frequently make the front-page headlines, soccer is entirely a team sport. Real success on the pitch requires an interconnected, selfless unit where every single player on the squad—from the vocal backup goalkeepers to the tireless squad defenders—fully buys into the collective goal.

The diversity of this roster is its single greatest competitive advantage. By blending veteran, calm leadership from seasoned professionals with the fearless, high-tempo energy of emerging young prospects, the squad creates a dynamic atmosphere. Every player carries a unique tactical style, making Canada an unpredictable and highly adaptable team to play against.

FIFA World Cup 2026 – Canada’s full squad

Goalkeepers: Maxime Crépeau (Orlando City), Dayne St. Clair (Inter Miami), Owen Goodman (Barnsley)

Defenders: Alphonso Davies (Bayern Munich), Alistair Johnston (Celtic), Richie Laryea (Toronto FC), Niko Sigur (Hajduk Split), Moïse Bombito (OGC Nice), Derek Cornelius (Rangers), Luc de Fougerolles (Dender), Alfie Jones (Middlesbrough), Joel Waterman (Chicago Fire)

Midfielders: Stephen Eustáquio (LAFC), Ismaël Koné (Sassuolo), Jonathan Osorio (Toronto FC), Nathan Saliba (Anderlecht), Mathieu Choinière (LAFC), Tajon Buchanan (Villarreal), Ali Ahmed (Norwich City), Jacob Shaffelburg (LAFC), Liam Millar (Hull City), Jayden Nelson (Austin FC)

Forwards: Jonathan David (Juventus), Cyle Larin (Southampton), Tani Oluwaseyi (Villarreal), Promise David (Union Saint-Gilloise)

International Connections

Roots From Around the World

The beauty of the Canadian Men’s National Team is that it mirrors the multicultural fabric of Canada itself. This team is a living storybook of global movement, resilience, and triumph.

A majority of the roster comes from households that preserve profound cultural, emotional, and athletic ties to their families’ origin countries. Some players were born right here in Canada to soccer-crazy immigrant families arriving from the global South and Europe, growing up in environments where “the beautiful game” was a fundamental way of life. Other players arrived in Canada as young children after their families made the courageous decision to seek new beginnings. Our team captain, Alphonso Davies, was born in a West African refugee camp to Liberian parents fleeing the immense hardships of civil strife, discovering safe open fields to run in when his family immigrated to Alberta.

Whether first-generation or second-generation, these athletes carry their global heritage with deep pride, uniting under a single maple leaf to push Canadian soccer into a bold new era.

Previous World Cup experience

The team in Qatar, 2022.

Team Canada in Qatar for World Cup 2022 / via Wikipedia

Leading up to Qatar, some people may have thought Canada has never played in a World Cup but that was not true! Do you know where they played previously? (Hint: it was 1986).

Video

Canada’s World Cup roster reveal (90 seconds).

A worthy study by a narrator who explain the history of this very (UK) English expression.

Rising star, Ismaël Koné was injured in the Qatar match but this is still a worthy video.

Learn more about Alphonso Davies – 7 minute documentary
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sX88ewB83rE
(Teachers you may contact me for a short guiding document I created for this)

Blog posts

About this site and creator-educator Mike Simpson

Hello! I made this site because I am a passionate Canadian and soccer fan. ⚽ Learn more by reading my welcome post.

I spend most of my time working in design and communications and teaching students studying art, design, languages and communication for business. But I love sports. I mostly play rather than watch and I keep my eye on pro sports here in TO and abroad.

The point of this site is to share some materials I developed for teachers and to create a small e-learning demonstration site. If you are a student or teacher I hope you enjoy the site. If you are an institution or agency please consider hiring me for your project.

Thanks for reading and Go Canada Go!

Mike

Google “Doodles”

We have seen some cool animations throughout the tournament but during the game against the Swiss we noticed this awesome Google doodle:

Google doodle Canada soccer logos

What does that 3D style remind you of? Quite beautiful! Perhaps more engaging that the animated versions?