World Cup

FILE - Canada’s Alphonso Davies celebrates his penalty-kick goal against Curacao during the first half of a CONCACAF Nations League soccer match Thursday, June 9. 2022, in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP, File)

Canada prepares for its 1st World Cup in 36 years

In 2021, the team went from No. 72 in the world rankings to No. 40

FILE - Canada’s Alphonso Davies celebrates his penalty-kick goal against Curacao during the first half of a CONCACAF Nations League soccer match Thursday, June 9. 2022, in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP, File)
In this frame grab from video, 41-year-old Santiago Sánchez, a Spanish man who was documenting his travel by foot from Madrid to Doha for the 2022 FIFA World Cup carries a suitcase in a wheeled cart, in Sulaymaniyah, Iraq, Sept. 28, 2022. Sánchez has not been heard from since crossing into Iran three weeks ago, stirring fears about his fate in a country convulsed by mass unrest. That’s according to his family, who spoke to The Associated Press on Monday, Oct. 24, 2022. He was an experienced trekker, former paratrooper and fervent soccer fan. (AP Photo)

Spanish man trekking to soccer’s World Cup reported missing in Iran

Santiago Sánchez, was last seen in Iraq after hiking through 15 countries

In this frame grab from video, 41-year-old Santiago Sánchez, a Spanish man who was documenting his travel by foot from Madrid to Doha for the 2022 FIFA World Cup carries a suitcase in a wheeled cart, in Sulaymaniyah, Iraq, Sept. 28, 2022. Sánchez has not been heard from since crossing into Iran three weeks ago, stirring fears about his fate in a country convulsed by mass unrest. That’s according to his family, who spoke to The Associated Press on Monday, Oct. 24, 2022. He was an experienced trekker, former paratrooper and fervent soccer fan. (AP Photo)
FILE - FIFA President Gianni Infantino, left, and Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani leave the stage before the 2022 soccer World Cup draw at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Center in Doha, Qatar, Friday, April 1, 2022. The first World Cup in the Middle East is only one month away. Qatar has been on an often bumpy 12-year journey that has transformed the nation. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar, File)

Qatar’s 12-year journey as World Cup host has 1 month to go

All 64 games over the course of 29 days involving 32 teams will be held in the Doha area

FILE - FIFA President Gianni Infantino, left, and Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani leave the stage before the 2022 soccer World Cup draw at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Center in Doha, Qatar, Friday, April 1, 2022. The first World Cup in the Middle East is only one month away. Qatar has been on an often bumpy 12-year journey that has transformed the nation. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar, File)
Bayern’s Alphonso Davies, centre, leaves the field after getting injured during the German Bundesliga soccer match between Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich in Dortmund, Germany, Saturday, Oct. 8, 2022. Davies, who had to be helped off the field after taking a boot to the head, was back training Friday with Bayern Munich. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Martin Meissner

Canadian star Alphonso Davies back training with Bayern Munich after blow to head

Davies was diagnosed with a “cranial bruise” in taking a boot to the face

Bayern’s Alphonso Davies, centre, leaves the field after getting injured during the German Bundesliga soccer match between Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich in Dortmund, Germany, Saturday, Oct. 8, 2022. Davies, who had to be helped off the field after taking a boot to the head, was back training Friday with Bayern Munich. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Martin Meissner
Canadian national men’s soccer team head coach John Herdman watches a training session for a CONCACAF Nations League match against Curacao, in Vancouver, on Tuesday, June 7, 2022. Canada faces World Cup host Qatar on Friday in Vienna in the first of two friendlies during the FIFA September international window. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Canada cruises to 2-0 win over World Cup host Qatar in men’s soccer friendly

Three months after a disastrous June camp disrupted by a player boycott…

Canadian national men’s soccer team head coach John Herdman watches a training session for a CONCACAF Nations League match against Curacao, in Vancouver, on Tuesday, June 7, 2022. Canada faces World Cup host Qatar on Friday in Vienna in the first of two friendlies during the FIFA September international window. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
FILE — A view of hotels and other buildings at the West Bay area in Doha, Qatar, Thursday, Dec. 9, 2021. Many hotels in Qatar are already fully booked for the soccer World Cup which will be held in November and December 2022. Qatar’s ambassador to Germany was personally urged to abolish his country’s death penalty for homosexuality at a congress hosted by the German soccer federation on human rights in the World Cup host country. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic, file)

World Cup soccer captains want to wear rainbow armbands in Qatar

FIFA rules prohibit teams from bringing their own armband design

FILE — A view of hotels and other buildings at the West Bay area in Doha, Qatar, Thursday, Dec. 9, 2021. Many hotels in Qatar are already fully booked for the soccer World Cup which will be held in November and December 2022. Qatar’s ambassador to Germany was personally urged to abolish his country’s death penalty for homosexuality at a congress hosted by the German soccer federation on human rights in the World Cup host country. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic, file)
Canadian national men’s soccer team head coach John Herdman watches a training session for a CONCACAF Nations League match against Curacao, in Vancouver, on Tuesday, June 7, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Coach ponders injuries, form and playing time for Canada’s soccer roster

Canadian men taking part in the World Cup for the first time in 36 years as kickoff creeps closer

Canadian national men’s soccer team head coach John Herdman watches a training session for a CONCACAF Nations League match against Curacao, in Vancouver, on Tuesday, June 7, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Canada’s Cyle Larin (17) celebrates his goal with Richie Laryea against Jamaica during first half CONCACAF World Cup soccer qualifying action in Toronto on Sunday, March 27, 2022. Canada will get a taste of World Cup opposition in September with games in Europe against Qatar and Uruguay ahead of the men’s soccer showcase in Qatar in November. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette

Canadian men to face Qatar, Uruguay in September ahead of World Cup

Both matches will take place in Vienna

Canada’s Cyle Larin (17) celebrates his goal with Richie Laryea against Jamaica during first half CONCACAF World Cup soccer qualifying action in Toronto on Sunday, March 27, 2022. Canada will get a taste of World Cup opposition in September with games in Europe against Qatar and Uruguay ahead of the men’s soccer showcase in Qatar in November. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette
International soccer players, from left, Hirving "Chucky" Lozano, Jonathan Osorio and Christian Pulisic wait along 6th Ave. for FIFA's announcement of the names of the host cities for the 2026 World Cup soccer tournament, Thursday, June 16, 2022, in New York. (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray)

FIFA chief predicts soccer becoming U.S. number-one sport by 2026

NFL averaged 17.1 million viewers during 2021 season, while the 2018 World Cup averaged 5.04 million

International soccer players, from left, Hirving "Chucky" Lozano, Jonathan Osorio and Christian Pulisic wait along 6th Ave. for FIFA's announcement of the names of the host cities for the 2026 World Cup soccer tournament, Thursday, June 16, 2022, in New York. (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray)
Cheers broke out at B.C. Place on Thursday (June 16, 2022) as Vancouver was selected as a 2026 FIFA World Cup host city as part of a North American joint bid. (Cole Schisler/Black Press Media)

Vancouver chosen to host FIFA World Cup in 2026 as part of North American bid

Vancouver will get five pre-games, but FIFA has yet to confirm the total number of games

Cheers broke out at B.C. Place on Thursday (June 16, 2022) as Vancouver was selected as a 2026 FIFA World Cup host city as part of a North American joint bid. (Cole Schisler/Black Press Media)
Canada’s Alphonso Davies celebrates his penalty kick goal against Curacao during the first half of a CONCACAF Nations League soccer match, in Vancouver, on Thursday, June 9, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Davies scores 2, Canada tops Curaçao 4-0 in CONCACAF Nations League play

Steven Vitoria and Lucas Cavallini each added a goal for winners

Canada’s Alphonso Davies celebrates his penalty kick goal against Curacao during the first half of a CONCACAF Nations League soccer match, in Vancouver, on Thursday, June 9, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
A Canada soccer logo is seen on Alphonso Davies in Vancouver, B.C., Sunday, March 24, 2019. A planned training session for Canada’s men’s soccer team was scrapped Friday amid ongoing discussions about player compensation. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Canada men back at practice after meeting with soccer federation

Canada set to play Thursday a week after refusing to play scheduled match due to a labour dispute

A Canada soccer logo is seen on Alphonso Davies in Vancouver, B.C., Sunday, March 24, 2019. A planned training session for Canada’s men’s soccer team was scrapped Friday amid ongoing discussions about player compensation. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Bayern's Alphonso Davies, front, duels for the ball with Stuttgart's Omar Marmoush during the German Bundesliga soccer match between Bayern Munich and Stuttgart, at the Allianz Arena, in Munich, Germany, Sunday, May 8, 2022. (AP Photo/Michael Probst )

Panama replaces Iran as Canada opponent in World Cup warmup

61st-ranked country will be opponent now for Sunday match in Vancouver

Bayern's Alphonso Davies, front, duels for the ball with Stuttgart's Omar Marmoush during the German Bundesliga soccer match between Bayern Munich and Stuttgart, at the Allianz Arena, in Munich, Germany, Sunday, May 8, 2022. (AP Photo/Michael Probst )
Photos of some of the victims stand among candles as members of Toronto’s Iranian community attend a vigil in Toronto on Wednesday, January 8, 2020, to mourn victims of Ukraine International Airlines Flight PS752 that crashed after takeoff near Tehran, Iran. Canada Soccer has cancelled a planned friendly with Iran in the face of growing criticism. At issue is whether Canada should be hosting Iran given the Canadians who died on Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752 when it was shot down on Jan. 8, 2020, minutes after taking off from Tehran, by an Iranian surface-to-air missile. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young

Canada Soccer calls off planned friendly match with Iran in face of rising criticism

Soccer Canada gave no reason as it faced criticism tied to Iran’s shooting down of Flight 752 in 2020

Photos of some of the victims stand among candles as members of Toronto’s Iranian community attend a vigil in Toronto on Wednesday, January 8, 2020, to mourn victims of Ukraine International Airlines Flight PS752 that crashed after takeoff near Tehran, Iran. Canada Soccer has cancelled a planned friendly with Iran in the face of growing criticism. At issue is whether Canada should be hosting Iran given the Canadians who died on Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752 when it was shot down on Jan. 8, 2020, minutes after taking off from Tehran, by an Iranian surface-to-air missile. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young
Former Brazilian player Kaká, left, and former Spanish player Iker Casillas present the Qatar FIFA World Cup trophy during the Trophy Tour by Coca-Cola kicked off today with a first-stop event in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Thursday, May 12, 2022. (AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili)

FIFA plans to announce 2026 World Cup sites on June 16

Vancouver, Edmonton, Toronto all in the running to host games

Former Brazilian player Kaká, left, and former Spanish player Iker Casillas present the Qatar FIFA World Cup trophy during the Trophy Tour by Coca-Cola kicked off today with a first-stop event in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Thursday, May 12, 2022. (AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili)
Canada head coach John Herdman celebrates the team’s win following second half CONCACAF World Cup soccer qualifying action against Jamaica, in Toronto on Sunday, March 27, 2022. Canada will host Iran in a men’s soccer friendly on June 5 in Vancouver. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn

Canadian men to host Iran in June soccer friendly at B.C. Place Stadium

Canada, ranked 38th in the world, and No. 21 Iran are both preparing for the FIFA World Cup in Qatar

Canada head coach John Herdman celebrates the team’s win following second half CONCACAF World Cup soccer qualifying action against Jamaica, in Toronto on Sunday, March 27, 2022. Canada will host Iran in a men’s soccer friendly on June 5 in Vancouver. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn
Members of Canada’s national soccer team celebrate after clinching a berth in CONCACAF World Cup Qualifier soccer action against Jamaica in Toronto on Sunday March 27, 2022 THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn

Canadian men to face Belgium, Croatia and Morocco in opening round at World Cup

Canadian men are ranked 38th in the world, below the 3 other teams in their group

Members of Canada’s national soccer team celebrate after clinching a berth in CONCACAF World Cup Qualifier soccer action against Jamaica in Toronto on Sunday March 27, 2022 THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn
Panama’s Eric Davis, left, and Canada’s Tajon Buchanan battle for the ball during a qualifying soccer match for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 in Panama City, Panama, Wednesday, March 30, 2022. (AP Photo/Arnulfo Franco)

Canada falls 1-0 to Panama, finishes atop CONCACAF World Cup qualifying standings

Canadians head to Qatar along with U.S., Mexico

Panama’s Eric Davis, left, and Canada’s Tajon Buchanan battle for the ball during a qualifying soccer match for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 in Panama City, Panama, Wednesday, March 30, 2022. (AP Photo/Arnulfo Franco)
Flags of some of the qualified countries of the World Cup wave at the seafront in Doha, Qatar, Tuesday, March 29, 2022. The draw for the World Cup will be held in Doha on April 1.(AP Photo/Darko Bandic)

FIFA, Qatar prepare for unprecedented World Cup finals draw

Global health crisis and war in Ukraine combine to make this draw like no other

Flags of some of the qualified countries of the World Cup wave at the seafront in Doha, Qatar, Tuesday, March 29, 2022. The draw for the World Cup will be held in Doha on April 1.(AP Photo/Darko Bandic)
Canada’s Cyle Larin (17) celebrates his goal with Richie Laryea against Jamaica during first half CONCACAF World Cup soccer qualifying action in Toronto on Sunday, March 27, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette

Canadian men’s soccer team beats Jamaica 4-0 to qualify for World Cup in Qatar

Canada last played in tournament in 1986

Canada’s Cyle Larin (17) celebrates his goal with Richie Laryea against Jamaica during first half CONCACAF World Cup soccer qualifying action in Toronto on Sunday, March 27, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette