Canada is set to begin its 2026 World Cup journey against one of four potential rivals: Jordan (ranked 66th), Cabo Verde (68th), Ghana (72nd), or New Zealand (86th). Alternatively, they could also face Italy (12th) in their opening match on June 12 at Toronto’s BMO Field. If both Canada and Mexico finish as runners-up in their groups, they would meet in the Round of 32.
The exact tournament path will be unveiled during the draw on December 5 at the John F. Kennedy Centre for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. FIFA disclosed the draw procedure on Tuesday, hinting at what the future matchups might hold. The 48-team event will feature 12 groups, with Mexico (15th), Canada (27th), and the United States (14th) already assigned to Groups A, B, and D, respectively.
The playoff winners will be placed in Pot 4, along with teams like Curacao (82nd) and Haiti (84th), to ensure fairness among qualified and playoff teams. Italy’s route to the World Cup involves overcoming Northern Ireland and potentially Wales or Bosnia and Herzegovina. Canada’s Group B matches will commence against a Pot 4 team before moving to Vancouver to face Pot 3 and Pot 2 teams on June 18 and June 24, respectively.
In a worst-case scenario, Canada could confront formidable opponents like Croatia (10th), Morocco (11th), Colombia (13th), Norway (29th), or Egypt (34th). Each group will have a maximum of two UEFA teams, with the top two from each group advancing to the knockout phase. The tournament’s schedule, including match locations and times, will be released on December 6.
Canada, currently ranked 41st globally, aims to redeem itself after winless appearances in the 2022 and 1986 World Cups. The draw pots for the 2026 World Cup have been divided into four categories, featuring strong contenders like Spain, Argentina, France, and England in Pot 1, and teams from various regions in Pots 2, 3, and 4. The top-ranked teams are strategically positioned to avoid facing each other until the final stages of the tournament.
