Canada Closing In on 2026 World Cup Path

One of the most significant moments in Canadian sports history will take place in mid-June, when the country's best men's soccer team takes the field at BMO Field for its first World Cup match, its first home match.

Over the past week, it has become clear what Canada will face in its three group stage matches, and perhaps more importantly, what it won't have to worry about.

Forty-two countries have now secured their places in the 2026 Men's FIFA World Cup, leaving just six spots remaining for the tournament's first 48-team edition. Each of the seven editions between 1998 and 2022 featured 32 teams.

Canada qualified automatically as host, but still takes another step toward achieving serious respect in "The Beautiful Game." They defeated Venezuela 2-0 in a friendly match played in Fort Lauderdale on Tuesday night and have now lost only two of their last 10 matches.

They got some extra motivation to perform in Florida when hockey legend Wayne Gretzky came to the team for a meet-and-greet before the match and gave a speech.

"I don't think there could have been anyone better to talk to our team about being Canadian, being united, and competing for our country," said Team Canada head coach Jesse Marsch. "He was fantastic."

Before the match, Gretzky praised the team's attitude. "We know these kids, they're going to work hard and fight, they're going to represent our country, and we're hosting some games," Gretzky said. "There's a lot of pressure on them, but from meeting and talking to them, their attitude is right, they're very passionate and excited. I know Jesse is proud not only of the way they play, but also of how they handle themselves."

Canada is now on vacation until March, so here's everything you need to know before things get very, very strange during their long break.

The World Cup Draw is Coming Soon

The World Cup draw will take place in Washington on December 5th. United States President Donald Trump is expected to attend the ceremony, where the teams will be seeded.

In this 48-team edition, there will be 12 groups, each containing four teams. The top two teams from each group will advance to the new 'Round of 32,' and will be joined by the eight best third-placed teams. This will be determined by points and goal difference. During the group stage, teams receive three points for a win, one point for a draw, and no points for a loss. After that, every match is a knockout.

To determine which teams will face each other in the group stage, the 12 teams will be divided into four pots based on the official FIFA rankings. The first pot is an exception because it includes the three hosts, Canada, the USA, and Mexico, as well as the nine top-ranked countries that have qualified.

The remaining three pots will then be ranked. One team from each of the four pots is selected to form a group until all 12 countries have been formed.

There cannot be more than one country from the same qualifying group. For example, Argentina and Colombia, despite being in different pots, cannot be in the same group. Europe is an exception, as UEFA countries will comprise 16 of the 48 qualifying countries.