It’s a day that Canadian soccer fans will never forget.
The Canadian men’s national team delivered its first ever FIFA World Cup victory in convincing fashion in front of a sold out crowd at BC Place on Thursday.
It was a 6-0 win over Qatar, a dominating performance highlighted by a hat trick from Jonathan David and slightly marred by a serious, long-term injury to Ismaël Koné.
Canada, we’ve waited a long time for this moment!
— CANMNT (@CANMNT_Official) June 19, 2026
Our first ever win at a Men’s World Cup Finals! 🇨🇦❤️#CANMNT #OurGameNow pic.twitter.com/rjl814tblm
Cyle Larin, who scored Canada’s lone goal in last week’s opener against Bosnia and Herzegovina, got the party started in Vancouver today.
His goal in the 16th minute put Canada up 1-0, then David got on the board 13 minutes later with his first of the tournament to double the lead.
A red card put Qatar down to 10 men in the 33rd minute and David took advantage of the extra space by scoring his second of the match in first-half stoppage time.
JONATHAN DAVID HAS ANOTHER!
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) June 18, 2026
Canada now leads 3-0 after David gets another!#FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/YZbDSdBFeH
Qatar’s second red card came early in the second half and it’s one that proved costly for Canada.
A bad challenge by Assim Madibo resulted in a significant lower leg injury to Koné, one of Canada’s most promising and important young players.
Unfortunately for Koné, who turned 24 on Tuesday, it’s an injury that will see him miss the rest of the World Cup and likely many more months after for his Italian Serie A club Sassuolo.
Ismaël Koné receives a standing ovation as he is stretchered off the field.#FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/5ospAtyzXb
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) June 18, 2026
While the injury was an emotional one for the Canadian players, they didn’t let up with the two-man advantage and added some important goals in the final 40 minutes of play.
First it was Nathan Saliba, Koné’s replacement, who scored his first World Cup goal around five minutes after coming on as an injury replacement.
A Jacob Shaffelburg shot turned into a Qatar own goal in the 75th minute, then David completed his hat trick in stoppage time to put Canada up by six.
It was arguably the most important game in the history of the Canadian men’s national team and they certainly delivered in front of a packed house in Vancouver.
History made 🇨🇦
— FIFA (@FIFAcom) June 19, 2026
Co-hosts Canada secure their first-ever @FIFAWorldCup win on home soil in Vancouver đź‘Ź pic.twitter.com/5vzsuPlatm
Canada now has four points through two games, tied with Switzerland in Group B, but the plus-six goal differential puts the hosts on top heading into the final group stage match next week.
Of course, that final match will come against Switzerland in Vancouver on Wednesday, June 24, and a draw or win will clinch first place in the group for Canada.
A first-place finish in the group is big, as it will allow Canada to stay in Vancouver for a round-of-32 match and a round-of-16 match after that if they win.
No matter the result next week, today’s victory essentially guarantees that Canada will advance out of the group stage and into the knockout rounds of a World Cup for the first time ever.
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