Canada World Cup draw 2026: Group results, schedule, roster, coach and more to know

Canada men’s soccer hasn’t enjoyed much success at the World Cup over the years, but it will look to change that on home soil in 2026.

Jesse Marsch’s squad boasts a few standout talents across its roster. Alphonso Davies, Tajon Buchanan, and Jonathan David are among Europe’s most exciting players—and all three will be counted on to lift Canada from World Cup obscurity.

The road will not be easy for the Canadians, who have one of the worst records of any team to compete in multiple World Cups. An expanded tournament field should ease some concerns and could provide a platform for the Canadian program to take its next step toward footballing success.

Here’s what you need to know about Canada’s draw for the 2026 World Cup.

2026 WORLD CUP HQ: Live World Cup draw tracker | Latest World Cup news | Full World Cup schedule

Canada World Cup draw 

As one of the 2026 World Cup's three hosts, Canada was pre-assigned into Group B. The Canadians are one of 12 teams included in Pot 1 of the draw alongside fellow hosts the United States and Mexico and the remaining nine highest-ranked sides in the FIFA standings.

Group match schedule

Canada all-time World Cup groups

Canada has appeared in two World Cups, making its debut in 1986 before returning to the competition in Qatar in 2022. The Canadians have lost all six of their World Cup matches.

Canada World Cup snapshot

As one of the competition's three host countries, Canada is a Pot 1 side. The Canadians will be joined by fellow hosts United States and Mexico, as well as the top nine sides in FIFA's rankings.

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Jesse Marsch's side will look to overcome an underwhelming World Cup history when it takes the field in the competition in 2026. Canada has two goals across World Cup fixtures. Only one of those tallies belongs to a Canadian player — Alphonso Davies struck gold during a 4-1 loss to Croatia in 2022.

Canada is still seeking its first World Cup point, having dropped all six of the matches its ever taken part in during the competition. Given the tournament's expanded format, a positive result (or multiple of them) could go a long way in making Canada's third World Cup appearance a fruitful one.

• Current FIFA World Ranking: 27 (November)
• World Cup titles: 0
• World Cup appearances (last): 2 (Qatar 2022)
• How Canada qualified, W-L-D:  Host
• World Cup record:
  • Games:  6 GP (0 W, 0 D, 6 L)
  • Goal differential: -10 (2 GS, 12 GA)

Canada World Cup 2026 preview

Canada is far from an international soccer power. But the side has proven a budding entity on the CONCACAF stage. Marsch and Co. Have found a winning formula with a cadre of gifted youngsters.

The Canadians are led by their captain, the aforementioned Alphonso Davies. The Bayern Munich star has yet to take the field this season, having been sidelined with a torn ACL. He figures to be back in Bayern's first-team setup in the new year and should offer width and dynamism to Canada's attack.

MORE: How the 2026 FIFA World Cup draw will work

Tajon Buchanan has gone from strength-to-strength since making his World Cup debut in 2022. The Syracuse alum is one of the first names in Villarreal's team sheet, earning starts for the Yellow Submarine throughout their Champions League campaign. He his artful in possession, blessed with dancing feet and an improving eye for goal.

Marsch and Co. Have quite the striker at their disposal in Jonathan David.  The former Lille man hasn't found his feet yet at Juventus, tallying just two goals in 18 appearances. But he's a known commodity in elite competition, recording more than 100 goals in Ligue 1 and helping lead Lille to an unlikely title during the 2020-21 season.

Other noteworthy players include Porto midfielder Stephen Eustaquio, Celtic full-back Alistair Johnston  and the Villarreal's Tani Oluwaseyi,  all of whom appear likely to make a contribution come tournament play.

• Star Players: Alphonso Davies, Tajon Buchanan, Jonathan David
• Players to Watch: Ismael Kone, Tani Oluwaseyi, Niko Sigur

Who is Canada head coach?

Jesse Marsch  is Canada's manager. If that name sounds familiar, that's because it is. The American played 14 seasons in the MLS before transitioning to the sidelines, barking out orders for the Montreal impact and New York Red Bulls before landing his first European gig with RB Salzburg in 2019.

MORE: Teams and pots for the 2026 FIFA World Cup draw

Marsch spent five seasons in Europe, taking his talents to RB Leipzig before helping Leeds United avoid relegation in 2022. Sacked by Leeds in 2023 after a poor run of form, Marsch was named Canada's head coach in 2024.

• Manager (Nationality): Jesse Marsch (United States)
• Date hired: May 13, 2024
• Record as national team manager (W-L-D): 12-10-5
• Major titles since hire: N/A
• Notable victories: 
  • 0-0 vs. France, 2024 international friendly match
  • 1-1 (4-3 on penalties) vs. Venezuela, 2024 Copa America quarterfinals
  • 2-2 (3-4 on penalties) vs. Uruguay, 2024 Copa America semifinals
  • 2-1 vs. United States, 2025 CONCACAF Nations League third-place play-off
  • 4-2 vs. Ukraine, 2025 Canadian Shield
  • 6-0 vs. Honduras, 2025 Gold Cup group stage game

Canada roster at the World Cup 2026

Marsch has tended to deploy a two-man midfield pairing, with an attacking midfielder or second striker providing support to the frontman. The wingers offer width and attacking threat — the left-footed Davies is adept at driving the ball on the outside before whipping in crossed, while Buchanan will attack defenders with his 1v1 skill.

Marsch's sides like to press out of possession, with the midfield and forward lines tasked with flooding the half-spaces to close off pacing lanes. Defenders play high, leaving them susceptible to well-timed runs from deep but allowing them to keep the space in the midfield compact.

Canada predicted starting XI (formation: 4-4-2)

St. Clair (GK)

Johnston, Miller, Cornelius, Davies

Buchanan, Kone, Eustaquio, Shaffelburg

David, Oluwaseyi

Strengths: 

• Speed:  Canada has plenty of vigor across its roster. Its defense is fairly mobile, with Davies ranking as one of the sport's fastest talents. Buchanan is similarly pacey, capable of sweeping the ball from one side of the pitch to the other with feints and flicks. David and Oluwaseyi should benefit from their teammates' explosiveness.
• Striker pairing:  David is at his best when he's linking up with his teammates. He is a talented goal-scorer. But his hold-up play and willingness to drop deep to help build attacks should pair well with Oluwaseyi, who comes to life inside the eighteen-yard box.
• Alphonso Davies:  It bears repeating: Alphonso Davies is one of the best fullbacks in world football. His pace, skillfulness and technique puts him in rarefied air among those manning the flanks for the world's best sides. For Canada, he has been given the license to race up the wing and wreak havoc on opposition defenses. He'll need to do that same in 2026 for Canada to hit new heights.

Weaknesses: 

• Defense:  Marsch's tactical philosophy revolves around winning the ball back high up the field. It is a side bursting with speed. But the high line can prove fatal when sides loft balls over the top. Canada has conceded 21 goals in 27 games with Marsch in charge. While that return isn't bad, the quality of competition it faces in CONCACAF can leave something to be desired. It's unclear how Marsch's style of play would translate when matched up with higher quality opposition.

Canada roster for 2026 World Cup

Below is Canada's projected 26-man roster for the 2026 World Cup. This will be updated when the squad is officially announced closer to the start of the tournament.

*Caps as of Nov. 16, 2025.

Canada World Cup history

Canada has yet to record a point in six World Cup fixtures, dropping each of its games during the 1986 and 2022 iterations of the tournament. It will be searching for better results this time around.

• World Cups appearances:  2
• Best finish:  Winners (1986, 2022)
• All-time goals scored: 2
• All-time goals conceded:  12
• All-time record (W-L-D): 0-0-6

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