2022 World Cup Odds: Team Canada preview and prediction

When Team Canada takes to the pitch at Qatar 2022, it will mark the end of a World Cup drought that dates back nearly 40 years to the 1986 World Cup in Mexico.  Ranked No. 41 in the world by FIFA, Canada has drawn a tough slate of opponents in Group F that includes world No. 2 Belgium, 2018 World Cup runners-up Croatia and tournament experienced Morocco.

This is a completely new generation of Canadian soccer talent with many members of the squad producing at high levels for some of the biggest club teams in the world.  Can Canada shock the world and turn heads in Qatar?

Manager: John Herdman

World ranking: 41

Previous World Cup appearance: 1986 (0-0-3 finish)

Group F opponents: Belgium (No. 2 in FIFA world rankings); Croatia (No. 12); Morocco (No. 22)

Fixtures: Nov. 23 vs. Belgium; Nov. 27 vs. Croatia; Dec. 1 vs. Morocco

The Path to Qatar

It was a long road to Qatar for Canada as they had to play more qualifying games than any other country thanks to a revamped and complicated CONCACAF qualifying system that was affected by COVID.  Canada won eight of 14 qualifying games, including upset victories over powerhouses Mexico and the United States.  Their only loss in the qualifying round was a meaningless 1-0 defeat against Panama in the final match, which was played without key players like Alphonso Davies and Cyle Larin.  The top goalscorer for all CONCACAF teams in the qualifying round was Larin with 13 goals, followed by Jonathan David at 9.  Davies and Lucas Cavallini finished the qualifying round tied for sixth in scoring with five goals apiece.

Three-Headed Attack

The final 26-man roster won’t be determined until after the Nov. 11 friendly against Bahrain, but it’s already clear who will drive the offence.  There is perhaps no player more crucial to their national team than Bayern Munich superstar Alphonso Davies.  The 22-year-old plays left-back for Bayern, but his blistering speed and dribbling ability allows him to play further up the field when he is on international duty and he’s proven to be a dangerous weapon with fellow European club star Jonathan David.

David, who currently sits third in Ligue 1 goalscoring with nine goals, is also a versatile player who can be moved around the lineup.  He will likely either play out wide, or as a tactical striker.  That still leaves Cyle Larin as another integral part of the attack.  Larin led the national team with 14 goals in 13 matches in 2021 and added another three goals this year.  With 25 goals in 54 international appearances, Larin is the top goalscorer in Canadian men’s national team history.  David is second on that list with 22 goals in 34 matches.

The House That Herdman Built

Canada’s only previous World Cup appearance was in Mexico in 1986.  The historic performance was marred by three losses in the group stage and no Canadian goals.  This is not the same team.  Head coach John Herdman has revolutionized Canadian soccer.  After leading the women’s national team to back-to-back Olympic bronze medal finishes in 2012 and 2016 and a quarterfinal appearance in the 2015 World Cup, Herdman took over the men’s program in 2018.  Canada was ranked 94th in the world at that point and by February 2022, the team vaulted to 33rd in the rankings, the highest mark ever for the country.  Herdman is also the first coach to take a women’s and men’s team to the World Cup.

Canada World Cup Predictions

This is a pretty historic opportunity for the Canadians as the men’s national team has never scored a World Cup goal.  If they can finally find the back of the net in Qatar, bank on it being Larin, Davies, or David.  David is the value pick at +473, but Davies just seems to find a way to step up and produce in the biggest moments.

Prediction: Davies scores Canada’s first World Cup goal.

Canada will be in tough to score at all against Belgium or Croatia and it’s hard to believe they’ll put three past Morocco.

Prediction: Under 2.5-goals.

The top two teams from each group will qualify for the knockout stage, which means Canada will likely need a couple major upset wins to move on.

Prediction: Canada does not advance past the group stage.