2026 World Cup: Canada look for first victory against Qatar

2026 FIFA World Cup co-host Canada are heading into the tie against Qatar in search of their first-ever victory at the event.

Both sides are looking forward to earning their first-ever World Cup victory in the second game of Group B at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

According to match predictions, Canada are clear favourites to win this match, coming out on top in 72.9% of the Opta supercomputer’s 25,000 simulations.

But they can’t write off Qatar, which secured a  1-1 draw against Switzerland, which was their first-ever draw at the tournament.

Canada, which drew their opening game against Bosnia and Herzegovina, have won their last four matches played in Vancouver, scoring 17 goals and conceding only two. 

The last time they suffered a defeat in the British Columbia city was at the hands of Mexico in a March 2016 World Cup qualifier.

Qatar, which hosted the 2022 edition, are ranked bottom of sides in Group B at the 2026 FIFA World Cup for shots, average possession, forward passes, touches in the opposition box, and successful final-third passes on match day one.

Both sides will face off at BC Place, Vancouver, on Thursday with 100% losing records at the tournament before drawing against Bosnia-Herzegovina and Switzerland, respectively, on match day one. 

Getting draws in their respective opening matches is a boost for them.

Qatar will have to look for a way to defeat Canada, which was the aggressor against Bosnia.  The co-host of the tournament will feel they did enough to win the game. 

Despite conceding the opening goal, they had 61% possession, 37 touches in the opposition box to Bosnia’s 15, and allowed just 0.02 expected goals in open play.

 Qatar, on their part, will celebrate their draw against a vastly more experienced Swiss side like a victory. 

In a match they had 32% possession, eight touches in the opposition box to Switzerland’s 42, no one gave them a chance, but they managed to escape with a draw thanks to an own goal from Miro Muheim in the fourth minute of added time.

Being the host, there will be much more pressure on Canada to earn the win. This is because the tournament’s other two co-hosts, Mexico and the USA, won on home turf with relative ease on match day one.

They are going into the game winless in seven attempts at the World Cup, but they will be banking on their record at Vancouver, where they have scored 17 goals in their last four matches played there, scoring 17 goals while conceding only two. 

They will be hoping to join the winning party at the tournament with the hope of eventually getting their first-ever three points and securing passage to the next round.