Canada's World Cup breakthrough turns them into forgotten hosts no longer

Canada’s historic run at the World Cup has started to change how the country sees football. After their knockout win over South Africa, Jesse Marsch called his players “Canadian heroes,” and the moment felt bigger than one result — it felt like a turning point for the sport in the country.

Canada were long treated as the forgotten co-host behind Mexico and the United States, but their performances have forced attention their way. They began with a draw against Bosnia-Herzegovina, then won their first-ever World Cup match by beating Qatar 6-0 to reach the last 16. That made the victory over South Africa even more meaningful, especially because it came after a defeat by Switzerland had pushed them into playing their last-32 tie away from home.

Even so, Canada were backed by huge and vocal support in Los Angeles, which made the game feel like a home fixture. Stephen Eustaquio’s stoppage-time winner capped a disciplined, composed performance, and Marsch said the full-time huddle was about marking a moment that could shape football’s future in Canada.

Marsch has been trying to transform Canada into a football nation since taking over two years ago. That may once have sounded ambitious in a country where ice hockey dominates, but the signs are changing. Fans are beginning to call it football more often, and the numbers in the stands show how much interest has grown.

Captain Alphonso Davies said it was emotional to see so many Canadians in red and white supporting the team. He described the atmosphere at their opener against Bosnia-Herzegovina as surreal and said it brought tears to his eyes. For him and others, the support has made this tournament feel like a national milestone.

The scale of Canada’s progress is hard to ignore. Before this World Cup, they had lost all six of their matches at the tournament, so even a point in the opener was historic. Now they have a place in the last 16 and the chance to keep building something even bigger.

Their next opponent will be one of the tournament’s heavyweights, either the Netherlands or Morocco. Marsch has described that as a free hit, but Canada will approach it with belief after exceeding expectations so far. Whatever happens next, this World Cup already feels like the moment when football in Canada took a genuine leap forward.