\ud83c\udde8\ud83c\udde6 CanMNT<\/h2>\n\nThe GIST: <\/strong>As you saw above, Group B is wide open with both games thus far ending in a 1\u20131 draw. Today\u2019s match against Qatar, widely considered the weakest team in the group, is a prime opportunity for Canada to snag three points and jump to the top.<\/p>\n\u2753 What did we learn from Les Rouges\u2019 <\/em>opening match?: <\/strong>After falling behind 1\u20130 in the first half, which included a squandered chance from striker Jonathan David, Canada\u2019s super sub Cyle Larin scored a 78th minute goal<\/a> to level the score and silence his haters<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n- Larin\u2019s strike helped Canada finally relax and play the aggressive, free flowing soccer head coach (HC) Jesse Marsch is known for \u2014 but then the whistle blew. Fingers crossed for that urgency straight from kickoff against Qatar; Marsch says the goals are coming<\/a>, after all.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\ud83d\udc40 The pressure\u2019s on for a dub. <\/strong>Here\u2019s who we\u2019re counting on to help get the job done:<\/p>\n\n- \ud83d\udd34 Isma\u00ebl Kon\u00e9 | Midfielder: <\/strong>Kon\u00e9\u2019s creative playmaking kept Canada in the mix in their opener \u2014 he might just be the most important CanMNT player on the roster right now.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\n- \u26aa Cyle Larin | Striker: <\/strong>Was Larin\u2019s goal enough to earn him a spot in the starting lineup or will he remain Marsch\u2019s not-so-secret second-half weapon?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\n- \u26ab Promise David | Striker: <\/strong>David assisted Larin\u2019s goal and, back in May, made the brazen declaration<\/a> that he\u2019d score a WC goal in Vancouver. Tick tock.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\u2757 Of note:<\/strong> Alphonso Davies is available for selection today, but is unlikely to play unless Canada needs to score. In case of emergency, break glass<\/del> bring in star power. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\ud83c\uddf6\ud83c\udde6 Qatar<\/h2>\n![\"It\u2019s](\"https:\/\/cdn.sanity.io\/images\/rdxk7lfa\/production\/2958021c82d5e4e6a35e54117592ebb2948c704a-960x670.png?rect=1,0,959,670&w=600&h=419&q=75&fit=max&auto=format\")
<\/p>\nSource: Reuters<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\nThe GIST: <\/strong>Canada wasn\u2019t the only country to record their first WC point on opening weekend \u2014 Qatar made their own history a mere 24 hours later. Here\u2019s what you need to know about the Maroons.<\/p>\n\ud83d\ude31 Qatar stunned Switzerland 1\u20131 last Saturday: <\/strong>The Gulf nation pulled off the unthinkable, netting an equalizer goal<\/a> four minutes into second-half stoppage time to cap off a strong defensive game against a superior opponent.<\/p>\n\n- The highest ranked team in Group B, mighty Switzerland failed to capitalize on multiple scoring chances (something Canada understands intimately), giving Qatar just enough breathing room to tie the game with a rare counterattack. Sometimes one goal is all it takes.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\ud83d\udc40 Here are the Qatari players who could give Canada some trouble:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n- \ud83d\udd34 Boualem<\/strong> Khoukhi | Center back: <\/strong>Qatar\u2019s captain headed the ball that would ultimately deflect off Switzerland’s Miso Muheim and land in the net. Heroic.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\n- \u26aa Mahmud Abunada | Goalkeeper: <\/strong>Abunada was busy <\/em>in game one, making six saves against the Swiss to keep the Maroons\u2019 hopes alive.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\n- \u26ab Akram Afif | Forward: <\/strong>Afif is Qatar\u2019s top player, which earned him plenty of attention from the Swiss defense, but he was still<\/em> able to create strong chances. Dangerous.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n
\ud83d\udd11 CanMNT\u2019s keys to success<\/h2>\n![\"It\u2019s](\"data:image\/png;base64,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\")
![\"It\u2019s](\"https:\/\/cdn.sanity.io\/images\/rdxk7lfa\/production\/e435ea746fc8a4ba4f3e50d5f366c477ce959aec-2048x1580.png?w=600&h=463&q=75&fit=max&auto=format\")
<\/p>\nSource: Getty Images<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\n\ud83d\ude05 Canada has the opportunity not only to win a WC game for the first time today,<\/strong> but to assert themselves against an inferior opponent and set the tone for the rest of their tourney \u2014 so long as they conquer their own Achilles\u2019 heel and\u2026score some goals<\/a>. Two things are true:<\/p>\n\n- One: The Reds are not known for being aggressive, something HC Marsch has been actively trying to change since taking charge in May 2024.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\n- Two: CanMNT\u2019s all-time leading goal scorer, striker Jonathan David, is in a bit of a drought for both club and country, having only scored eight goals for Juventus last season and not scoring internationally in open play since September 2025.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\ud83d\udcaa To win today, Canada \u2014 and David in particular \u2014 need to come out strong. <\/strong>A dub would almost guarantee CanMNT a spot in the knockouts, but beyond that, this match presents a stellar chance to prove they deserve<\/em> to move on and that they\u2019re an international team to be reckoned with. Fingers crossed they meet the moment.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
The GIST: <\/strong>As you saw above, Group B is wide open with both games thus far ending in a 1\u20131 draw. Today\u2019s match against Qatar, widely considered the weakest team in the group, is a prime opportunity for Canada to snag three points and jump to the top.<\/p>\n \u2753 What did we learn from Les Rouges\u2019 <\/em>opening match?: <\/strong>After falling behind 1\u20130 in the first half, which included a squandered chance from striker Jonathan David, Canada\u2019s super sub Cyle Larin scored a 78th minute goal<\/a> to level the score and silence his haters<\/a>.<\/p>\n \ud83d\udc40 The pressure\u2019s on for a dub. <\/strong>Here\u2019s who we\u2019re counting on to help get the job done:<\/p>\n \u2757 Of note:<\/strong> Alphonso Davies is available for selection today, but is unlikely to play unless Canada needs to score. In case of emergency, Source: Reuters<\/p>\n<\/div>\n The GIST: <\/strong>Canada wasn\u2019t the only country to record their first WC point on opening weekend \u2014 Qatar made their own history a mere 24 hours later. Here\u2019s what you need to know about the Maroons.<\/p>\n \ud83d\ude31 Qatar stunned Switzerland 1\u20131 last Saturday: <\/strong>The Gulf nation pulled off the unthinkable, netting an equalizer goal<\/a> four minutes into second-half stoppage time to cap off a strong defensive game against a superior opponent.<\/p>\n \ud83d\udc40 Here are the Qatari players who could give Canada some trouble:<\/strong><\/p>\n Source: Getty Images<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \ud83d\ude05 Canada has the opportunity not only to win a WC game for the first time today,<\/strong> but to assert themselves against an inferior opponent and set the tone for the rest of their tourney \u2014 so long as they conquer their own Achilles\u2019 heel and\u2026score some goals<\/a>. Two things are true:<\/p>\n \ud83d\udcaa To win today, Canada \u2014 and David in particular \u2014 need to come out strong. <\/strong>A dub would almost guarantee CanMNT a spot in the knockouts, but beyond that, this match presents a stellar chance to prove they deserve<\/em> to move on and that they\u2019re an international team to be reckoned with. Fingers crossed they meet the moment.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
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break glass<\/del> bring in star power. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\ud83c\uddf6\ud83c\udde6 Qatar<\/h2>\n
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\ud83d\udd11 CanMNT\u2019s keys to success<\/h2>\n
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