Canadian men look to seal World Cup qualification on home soil against Jamaica
Global News
After missing out on World Cup qualification in a loss Thursday in Costa Rica, Canada looks to seal the deal Sunday on home soil when it hosts Jamaica at BMO Field.
After missing out on World Cup qualification in a loss Thursday in Costa Rica, Canada looks to seal the deal Sunday on home soil when it hosts Jamaica at BMO Field.
For midfielder Stephen Eustaquio, Canada is fielding one heck of a team.
“The whole country is playing (Sunday). Not only us,” he said after a chilly early-evening training session Saturday.
Asked what his message is to the fans, Eustaquio’s answer was short and sweet. “Get ready to be in Qatar,” he said.
The hope is come 6 p.m. ET Sunday, the lakefront stadium will be the epicentre of a national celebration, just as King George V Park in St. John’s, N.L., was on Sept. 14, 1985, when the Canadian men defeated Honduras 2-1 to secure a berth in their first — and only — World Cup (Mexico 1986).
A sellout crowd is expected for Canada’s 19th game on the qualifying road to Qatar 2022. Thursday’s 1-0 loss in Costa Rica is the lone blemish on that record _ the Canadian men are 13-1-4 over three rounds.
The formula for success is simple.
Canada, which leads the final round of qualifying with 25 points (7-1-4), needs just one more point to secure qualification. It will also book its ticket to Qatar if fourth-place Costa Rica (5-3-4, 19 points) fails to win Sunday at El Salvador.
