Canada to face Belgium, Croatia and Morocco in group stage at World Cup in Qatar
CBC
Canada will face Belgium, Morocco and Croatia in Group F in the opening group stage of the World Cup in Qatar this November.
The Canadian men are ranked 38th in the world compared to No. 2 for Belgium, No. 16 for Croatia and No, 24 Morocco.
Canada was the last ball taken in the draw.
The Canadians drew France, Hungary and the Soviet Union as first-round opponents in their only other visit to soccer's showcase — Mexico '86. Canada lost all three matches and was outscored 5-0.
Friday's draw had Canada in Pot 4, which featured the lowest-ranked qualified teams. Rules of the draw meant that the Canadians could not be put in a group with fellow CONCACAF qualifiers Mexico and the U.S.
COMING UP: Qatar 2022 World Cup Draw reaction show - 2 pm ET
Hosts Brendan Dunlop and Craig Forrest are back with special guests to break down Canada's draw for Qatar 2022. Live at on CBC Sports Youtube channel, CBC Olympics Twitter and Facebook pages.
The draw took place at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Center with actor Idris Elba and broadcaster Reshmin Chowdhury as hosts.
The 32-team tournament runs Nov. 21 through Dec. 18. The teams are divided into eight groups of four for the opening stage. Each team plays the others in its group once, with the top two advancing to the knockout stage.
Canada clinched its first World Cup berth in 36 years with a 4-0 win over Jamaica on Sunday at BMO Field in Toronto, but they fell to Panama 1-0 on Wednesday in the final match of their qualifying campaign.
The Canadians finished atop the CONCACAF standings with an 8-2-4 record, but they dropped five places in Thursday's FIFA men's world rankings — falling from their record-high of No. 33.
WATCH | John Herdman joins Canada Soccer Legends Show:
Some New Brunswick fishermen are breathing a sigh of relief in the wake of a trade deal announced Friday between Canada and China.
A person infected with measles landed at Montreal-Trudeau International Airport on Jan. 8 after flying with Air Canada, Quebec’s Health Ministry announced in a news release Friday.
A junior officer arrested alongside a now-disgraced Winnipeg police constable after the pair stole cash and other items they believed to be evidence during a 2024 "integrity test" has pleaded guilty.
The woman whose car was used to take Taya Sinclair to the Saskatoon house where she was killed says she was trying to help Sinclair.
Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe had a front-row seat to a trade deal with China that he says marks a "positive day" for Canadian agriculture.
WARNING: This story contains graphic details of a homicide.
Prince Edward Island's lobster industry is breathing a sigh of relief after the federal government announced Canada’s new deal with China, which is expected to eliminate tariffs on lobsters and crab products exported from this country, as well as lower tariffs on Canadian canola.
An Alberta government pledge to bring the position of “triage liaison physicians” back to some emergency rooms could help ensure sick patients are better prioritized, some doctors say.
City staff have removed nearly all homeless encampments within 50 metres of schools, daycares and playgrounds in Toronto, a senior official says.
A former human resources employee at the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation is suing the national broadcaster, alleging he was "subjected to a toxic working environment" while working in the Yellowknife bureau.
The federal government reached what Prime Minister Mark Carney is calling a "landmark" agreement with China on Friday.
The lawyer for a P.E.I. teacher accused of sexual assault has asked the judge to acquit her client based on a lack of evidence presented by the Crown.
One of two indoor arenas in Whitehorse is out of commission indefinitely because of a buildup of heavy snow on the building's roof.