The Canadian men’s national team will find out its opponents for the 2026 FIFA World Cup group stage on Dec. 5, and the draw is likely to determine Canada’s potential to make a deep run as a surprise team in their first men’s World Cup games on home soil.
Jesse Marsch’s team ended the 2024 international calendar ranked No. 26 in the world, a seed that would have seen them as a Pot 3 team in most World Cups. Yet, as hosts alongside the United States and Mexico, they were auto-placed in Group D and Pot 1, avoiding some of the world’s best teams.
Over the last several years, Canada has tested itself against opponents from Concacaf, UEFA, CONMEBOL, AFC and CAF to best prepare for the World Cup.
With those experiences in mind, picks the best and worst groups Canada could get, not based on current FIFA ranking, but how Canada could stack up.
