Canada to face Belgium, Croatia and Morocco in group stage at World Cup in Qatar
Canada will face Belgium, Morocco and Croatia in Group F within the opening group stage of the World Cup in Qatar this November.
Canada was the final ball taken within the draw for the event, which runs Nov. 21 by way of Dec. 18.
Whereas there have been maybe more durable locations — Spain and Germany have been drawn in Group E — it’s a difficult group for the Thirty eighth-ranked Canadian males.
Star-studded Belgium moved into high spot within the FIFA world rankings in September 2018 and stayed there till this week, when it was leapfrogged by Brazil.
No. 16 Croatia was runner-up to France within the 2018 World Cup. This time spherical it received Group H in European qualifying with a 7-1-2 document, ending forward of Russia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Cyprus and Malta whereas outscoring the opposition 21-4.
No. 24 Morocco went unbeaten in African qualifying, securing its World Cup berth with a 5-2 combination win over the Democratic Republic of Congo after going 6-0-0 in its preliminary group.
The Canadians drew France, Hungary and the Soviet Union as first-round opponents of their solely different go to to soccer’s showcase — Mexico ’86. Canada misplaced all three matches and was outscored 5-0.
Friday’s draw had Canada in Pot 4, which featured the lowest-ranked certified groups. Guidelines of the draw meant that the Canadians couldn’t be put in a bunch with fellow CONCACAF qualifiers Mexico and the U.S.
The groups are divided into eight teams of 4 for the opening stage. Every workforce performs the others in its group as soon as, with the highest two advancing to the knockout stage.
CANADA’S SCHEDULE
- Nov. 23: vs Belgium
- Nov. 27: vs Croatia
- Dec. 1: vs Morocco
The draw came about on the Doha Exhibition and Conference Heart with actor Idris Elba and broadcaster Reshmin Chowdhury as hosts.
“Wow, what an emotion it’s to be right here in entrance of you,” mentioned FIFA president Gianni Infantino. “Now it is getting critical.
“This World Cup will merely be the perfect World Cup ever. The best present on earth,” he added.
Referencing “some turbulences world wide,” Infantino known as for the World Cup to carry individuals collectively “since we all know that tons of of hundreds of thousands of persons are watching this draw and plenty of leaders of the world are additionally watching.
“Our plea and the plea of the world soccer group to everybody, to all of the leaders and to all of the individuals of the world is cease the conflicts and the wars. Please, please interact in dialogue. Please interact in peace. As a result of we wish this to be the World Cup of unity and the World Cup of peace.”
Friday’s draw featured a world lineup of soccer royalty with Cafu (Brazil), Lothar Matthaus (Germany), Adel Ahmed MalAllah (Qatar), Ali Daei (Iran), Bora Milutinovic (Serbia/Mexico), Jay-Jay Okocha (Nigeria), Rabah Madjer (Algeria) and Tim Cahill (Australia) aiding.
Former U.S. worldwide Carli Lloyd and former England participant Jermaine Jenas additionally took half.
FIFA additionally unveiled La’eeb because the event’s official mascot. La’eeb, described as “adventurous, enjoyable and curious,” is an Arabic phrase which means super-skilled participant.
Canada clinched its first World Cup berth in 36 years with a 4-0 win over Jamaica on Sunday at BMO Subject in Toronto, however they fell to Panama 1-0 on Wednesday within the closing match of their qualifying marketing campaign.
The Canadians completed atop the CONCACAF standings with an 8-2-4 document, however they dropped 5 locations in Thursday’s FIFA males’s world rankings — falling from their record-high of No. 33.
WATCH | John Herdman joins Canada Soccer Legends Present:
CanMNT’s head coach John Herdman joins Brendan Dunlop and Craig Forrest to mirror on qualifying for the 2022 World Cup on house soil at BMO Subject. 9:56
