Canada now has legitimate UEFA Champions League-level difference makers in soccer. Most importantly, however, it has belief heading into today’s World Cup qualifying game at Estadio Cuscatlán in San Salvador, El Salvador, at 6 p.m. PT. It will close the penultimate window in the final round of CONCACAF qualifying with Canada topping the table.
“Forget tactics and statistics and analytics — even the talent — it’s the change of culture that has mattered most,” said 32-time Canada-capped Rob Friend.
“We had as many guys playing in Europe when I was on the national team as they do now, but we didn’t have the belief,” added the former Bundesliga pro player, and now co-owner and CEO of Island-based Pacific FC of the CPL.
“The attitude shift [head coach] John Herdman has instilled is enormous. It is truly a brotherhood now.”
Undefeated Canada (6-0-4) is on the verge and can clinch a World Cup berth for Qatar 2022 today, with a combination of results, but is more likely to do so in its three games in the final window away to Costa Rica on March 24, at home against Jamaica on March 27 and away to Panama on March 30.
“Canada is not only going to qualify but it is going to do well in the World Cup,” said Thomas Niendorf, sporting director of the Victoria Highlanders program, which operates from its youth academy up to its new B.C. League1 team.
“You get goose bumps when you look at the players we have — including true difference-makers good enough to play on Champions League clubs,” added Niendorf, who has deep connections to soccer at the highest levels in his native Germany, a powerhouse soccer nation.
“But it’s more than that. It’s the confidence level we have now, which is fantastic. They believe in themselves. There is so much belief now.”
The implications for soccer in this country will be significant.
“It’s going to be monstrous,” predicted Friend.
“The interest level is increasing but you’ve not seen the real impact, yet. That will come during the World Cup this year.”
Herdman concurred, during his post-match comments with Canada Soccer, following the key 2-0 victory over the U.S.: “It actually feels like we’re in a football country. It’s next man up. The team spirit has come through. We’ll never stop fighting and we’ve got a football nation behind us now. We’ll keep our feet on the ground and be humble again and go into El Salvador and look for three points. We could change this country forever for our sport with what we do here. Everyone’s living a big moment and this country feels like it’s behind us. We’re nearly there. It’s close.”
But national team success can’t happen in isolation. It is part of the growing ecosystem of soccer in Canada. And it’s finally going beyond just the grassroots initiation level with soccer moms dropping their kids off at the field. It all starts from that but there needs to be more.
“We have established those transitional development steps now, from youth academies to the semi-pro B.C. League1 and true professional clubs in the CPL, leading to MLS,” said Niendorf.
“Canadian players are not in the dark anymore. They have real stepping stones.”
Up to a national team surging in confidence.
“It’s a brotherhood culture with everyone fighting for one another,” said Canada veteran player Junior Hoilett, in a Zoom call with Canadian sports media.
“It’s totally different. There are no self-agendas. Everybody here is for the national team and country … to reach our final goal.”
That will come in December at Qatar. Canada has not qualified for the World Cup since Island players Ian Bridge, George Pakos and Jamie Lowery played in Canada’s lone appearance in 1986, a drought that appears will end.
“It was an absolute honour to put on the Canada jersey in the World Cup and we’re close now to finally have others do it 36 years later,” said Lowery.
“John Herdman is a salesman. He has got the players to buy in, much like Tony Waiters did with us. And even more so. These current guys are not intimidated by going into Central America because they play in big clubs in Europe. Hopefully, it will get kids across Canada dreaming big. The greater the number of kids playing the game, the greater the chance of getting cream at the top.”
