It was a wild jubilation at Toronto’s 30,000-capacity BMO Field as Canada’s national team emphatically defeated Jamaica by a margin of 4-0 to qualify for the World Cup.
The development means the first the nation will qualify for the tournament in 36 years. It is the country’s second time, having last appeared at the 1986 Mexico tournament.
Goals from Cyle Larin, Tajon Buchanan, Junior Hoilett and an Adrian Mariappa own goal secured all three points after Canada dominated against a Jamaica side already eliminated from contention in the CONCACAF region’s qualifying tournament for this year’s finals in Qatar.
In a post-match conference, an elated Canada’s English manager John Herdman – who took over the men’s team in 2018 after a successful stint in charge of Canada’s women team – said the qualification was proof that Canada was a “Football country”.
He said “You know what, you can play in a Champions League final, Canadians can play for Bayern Munich, and now they’re going to World Cups”
“Canada is a football nation and we better believe it. We’re going to keep going. We’ve only just got started.”
It is imperative to note that after a dominant qualifying campaign had left them three points clear with two games remaining, Canada needed only a point from the fixture against Jamaica to assure themselves of qualification. That objective was never in doubt as Canada went on the attack from the whistle.
“We’ve been through some tough times,” Herdman said. “I’ve knocked on doors to ask for money for this team, and we did it. And we just kept believing.
“I’m just happy for these lads. When I first took over and I said, ‘We’re going to qualify for the World Cup,’ I don’t think they believed us. I’m happy for them because all of these fans have waited and waited and waited, and hung in with us –- and we’re going.”
Reacting to the qualification, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, in a Twitter post, wrote “That’s what I’m talking about! Congratulations to the Canada men’s national soccer team – taking us to the World Cup for the first time in 36 years”.
