Canada relishing opportunity as underdogs after 2022 FIFA World Cup Draw

The 2022 FIFA World Cup draw took place on Friday and the Canadian men’s national team learned their upcoming opponents in Qatar. John Herdman’s squad will face Belgium, Croatia, and Morocco in Group F this November.

‍CANADA'S SCHEDULE

• Nov. 23: vs Belgium
• Nov. 27: vs Croatia
• Dec. 1: vs Morocco
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In a media call with reporters, the men’s national team head coach called the outcome of the draw ‘brilliant.’

“We wanted those types of games,” said Herdman. “You go into a World Cup there’s no easy matches and I think any team can beat any team on a given day, that’s just tournament football.”

Up first for Canada is World No. 2 Belgium, who was recently leapfrogged by Brazil for the No. 1 spot after a near four-year reign atop the FIFA World Rankings. At the 2018 World Cup in Russia, they finished third and were the favourites to win the recent Euros but fell short in the quarter-final to the eventual winners Italy.

Headlined by Manchester City midfielder Kevin DeBruyne, Chelsea FC striker Romelu Lukaku, and Real Madrid winger Eden Hazard, the Belgians will be Canada’s biggest test in the first round of matches.

“Belgium, we know their quality,” said Herdman. “Players like De Bruyne and Lukaku and what they’ve done on the international stage.”

Four days later, Canada will take on No. 16 ranked Croatia – who were the runners-up at the 2018 World Cup.

And although they have an aging squad, with their main man Luka Modric turning 37 years old later this year, they will pose a serious challenge for Canada, especially in the middle of the park where Chelsea midfielder Mateo Kovačić resides.

For Toronto FC midfielder Jonathan Osorio, who grew up a Real Madrid fan, it’s a dream for the Brampton, Ont., native to line up against World Class midfielders like De Bruyne and Modric.

“It's a dream. Honestly, the two midfielders that I admire the most in fact in the whole world,” said Osorio. “This is what you dream of as a player, as a person. As a footballer, you want to play against the best and we’re playing against the best midfielders in the world in Belgium and Croatia, and Morocco has great midfielders as well.”

Canada will round out Group F action against No. 24 ranked Morocco on Dec. 1. They will likely be the red-and-white’s best chance at registering a win at this World Cup, but they’re not a team you can take lightly, having breezed through African qualifying unbeaten before securing its World Cup berth with a 5-2 aggregate win over the Democratic Republic of Congo.

However, Morocco will be without their star Hakim Ziyech of Chelsea. The 28-year-old winger is in a dispute with head coach Vahid Halilhodzic and has retired from representing the national team.

Entering their first World Cup since 1986, the inexperienced Canadians – ranked 38 in the world – will be seen as underdogs in each of these matches, and coach Herdman wouldn’t want to have it any other way.

“We’re at our best when we rely on our grit and our spirit,” said Herdman. “For us, there will be a no-fear mentality – not naïve – but no fear coming into this, just see the opportunities to pioneer for this country and get after scoring that first goal for Canada at a World Cup.”

Canada’s only other World Cup appearance 36 years ago didn’t go as planned, falling to France, Hungary, and the Soviet Union in Mexico ’86.

They were outscored 5-0 then, but they’ll feel confident this time around that the outcome will be different, especially knowing that they're backed by an attacking core of Alphonso Davies, Jonathan David, Cyle Larin, and Tajon Buchanan.

“Before qualifying started, people weren’t giving Canada that much chance to qualify for a World Cup,” said Osorio. “They were saying maybe Canada could finish fourth, but we finished first, and so we proved people wrong in that way so why not prove people wrong again?

“We know the obstacles that we face at the World Cup with these three teams, but at the same time we’re relishing this opportunity and this challenge and we believe in ourselves and that’s the most important.”

The draw took place at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Center in Qatar’s capital city.

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