It was 36 years ago that Canadian soccer fans got to cheer on their home nation at the FIFA World Cup for the first time and the 1986 World Cup will live long in the memory for that very reason.
In 2022, four years before Canada becomes joint-hosts of the biggest single-sport competition on the planet, Les Rouges return to attempt to better the country’s first and only appearance to date.
Canada’s qualification was huge, propelled by world-class talents and a head coach who knows exactly how to make the most of their abilities. With a tough draw, however, it’s worth remembering the bar set by the 1986 team.
Road To The 1986 FIFA World Cup
In the ‘80s, CONCACAF qualification looked very different. In the first round, nine teams in three groups battled for the sole qualifying position, which then set up a final group for the three winners to play each other twice.
For Canada, the initial stage went smoothly, beating Haiti twice, Guatemala once, and drawing 1-1 in Guatemala City. In the final stage, Canada faced Honduras and Costa Rica – conquerors of the USA.
Two ties with Costa Rica and a 1-0 win in Honduras put Les Rouges narrowly ahead of Costa Rica, whose first three games ended in draws.
In the last games, Honduras beat Costa Rica and lost to Canada at the King George V Park in St. John’s.
Four goals were all that was needed to qualify from the final group, but throughout the eight-game qualification process, Dale Mitchell put up four goals, and Igor Vrablic scored three.
While it was a tremendous feat for Canada to reach the 1986 World Cup, the current Canada national team arguably had it tougher.
Canada’s 28 points from 14 games with 23 goals scored earned them the top spot, with Mexico, the US, Costa Rica, and Panama all very much in the hunt and competitive throughout qualification.
However, in the World Cup betting, Canada’s valiant efforts still see experts siding with a repeat of struggles on the big stage, sitting out at +1400 to make it to the quarter-finals.
Canada at the 1986 FIFA World Cup
Out of the frying pan, into the fire perfectly sums up Canada’s first-ever qualification and the subsequent group draw for the 1986 World Cup.
In Group C of the World Cup in Mexico, Canada had to face seeded team France – led by Michel Platini – the Soviet Union from Pot 1, and a Hungary side playing in its third consecutive World Cup.
An opening match loss of 1-0 to the formidable French outfit gave hope that Canada could perhaps steal a point from the other two sides, but this wasn’t to be the case.
A couple of 2-0 losses sunk Canada to the bottom of Group C with five goals against, three losses, and zero goals scored. The Soviet Union would bow out in the round of 16, and France would finish third.
One of the biggest issues faced by Canada coming into the tournament was the NASL dissolving, leaving the glut of Canada’s players without employment as the World Cup neared.
It’s very different this time around, with the likes of Jonathan David, Alphonso Davies, and Stephen Eustáquio playing first-team football for some of Europe’s top clubs.
Like the 1986 World Cup team, however, the 2022 Canada squad has found itself in a very tough group. Les Rouges sits as the outright underdogs at +1000 in the Group F odds, which boasts Belgium, Croatia, and Morocco.
Canada may not be expected to win the group and are long-shots to escape Group F, but the aim will be to surpass the 1986 World Cup result. A point or even a goal would make history for Canada in Qatar.
Canadians are rightfully optimistic about the winter World Cup this year, with the team looking to make an impact and lay a strong foundation for the next one.
*Credit for all images in this article belongs to AP Photo*
FIRST PUBLISHED: 24th October 2022
