After a long wait, Canada has finally landed a spot in the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. This is the biggest stage in the sporting arena, hence this is a great achievement for the country. For this reason, we have decided to revisit Canadian soccer history to understand its journey. Canada is famous for its hockey sport, but there is still so much more to its rich soccer history. There have been key moments over the years, ranging from winning championships to trailblazing icons gracing the sports world. Below is a list of the best moments in Canadian soccer history.
1. First Olympic Gold in Women's Soccer
Canada has a strong soccer women's team, although it took a lot of effort to win major silverware. In the 2012 and 2016 Olympics, this team only managed to come close to the top, winning bronze in both editions. The 2020 Tokyo Olympics was the moment to reckon with when this team trounced Sweden in penalty kicks to win the long-awaited gold medal.
2. Men's 2000 Gold Cup
The Canadian men's team has suffered a lot of disappointments in the quest for trophies. Apart from World Cup qualification, another major disappointment was the streak of losses leading up to the 2000 Gold Cup. The Canadian team lost to rivals like Costa Rica and the United States for three years running.
In 2000, the Canadian men's team qualified for the coveted Gold Cup. The team went there as underdogs, having a poor record behind them. Surprisingly, Canada pulled a surprise with multiple unexpected wins. Their star began to shine when they registered two draws in the group stages against South Korea and Costa Rica. In the quarter-finals, the team stunned everybody by beating Mexico through Richard Hastings.
The semifinal stage was another showdown that saw Canada eliminate Trinidad. In the finals, this team was poised to meet Colombia, who were then regarded as favorites. Canada was charged and highly confident following a series of wins in their previous matches. The team claimed the Gold Cup title by winning 2-0. The heroes of the tournament on the scoresheet were Carlo Corazzin and Jason de Vos.
3. Canada Hosts the 2007 U-20 World Cup
The developments in the Canadian football circles, including success in the women's team, culminated in the awarding of hosting rights for the U-20 World Cup. The tournament witnessed a massive 1.2 fans attend and support various teams. This attendance is almost similar to the number expected at the Qatar 2022 tournament, which has so much in waiting for fans. Until today, the tournament stands out as one of the biggest events that Canada has ever hosted. The only unfortunate thing that happened was that the country's national team did not go beyond the group stages. However, it was packed with fun as locals relished the moments of watching upcoming soccer stars like Luis Suarez, Sergio Aguero, Angel Di Maria, and more.
4. Christine Sinclair Honoured as International All-Time Leading Goal Scorer
Sinclair played her first game for the Canadian women's national team in 2000. She has since then built her profile as a soccer star who used her talent to elevate the Canadian team. She has put up an incredible show over the years, finding the net 190 times in 315 games.
This soccer star finally shattered a world record in 2020. She scored her 185th goal against St. Kitts and Nevis during the Tokyo Olympics. She became the all-time leading scorer on the world stage in the history of this game. This milestone was not only a personal achievement for Sinclair, but she also reduced the influence of US players Mia Hamm and Abby Wambach. Canada now ranks ahead of the US team because of Sinclair.
5. Canada Qualifies for the 2022 World Cup
After a long wait of 36 years, Canada finally qualified for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. It is such a big achievement, especially for the current generation of players. Prospective bettors and Canadian football fan can now find FIFA world cup betting tips where you can learn more about the World Cup predictions and odds. You can also check the recommended World Cup betting sites with impressive bonuses. Based on the final game, when Canada emphatically won against Jamaica 4-0, the fans are optimistic about the team's performance. The players are looking to build upon this win and possibly advance to greater stages of the tournament.
6. Canada Storms the Women's FIFA U-19 World Championship 2002
The turning point for Canadian soccer happened in 2002 when the women's team did the unthinkable by defeating favorites like Brazil, Japan, and England. Unfortunately, Canada lost to the United States in the final, but it was a statement that the team was a force to reckon with.
The final match was watched by over 47,000 fans, revealing the massive demand for women's football in Canada. The tournament was also a game-changer for individual players like Sinclair and Candace Chapman, who registered incredible success afterward.