Has Canada qualified for a World Cup before? The Canucks look well on their way to Qatar 2022 after an iconic victory against Mexico in World Cup qualifying. If Canada qualifies for next year’s tournament, it won’t be the first time the Northerners have made the big stage.
The referee and the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) who officiated in Tuesday's World Cup qualifier between Brazil and Argentina have been suspended for "serious errors,” the South American soccer governing body CONMEBOL said.
An incident in the goalless draw where Argentine defender Nicolás Otamendi appeared to elbow Raphinha — which left the Brazilian winger with a bloody mouth — went unpunished and CONMEBOL said the use of his arm amounted to "violent conduct.”
Uruguay's shock 3-0 defeat by Bolivia on Tuesday has left their fans bracing for what could be a dramatic final four matches in South American World Cup qualifying.
The result meant it was the first time Uruguay lost four qualifying games in a row and the team featuring Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani sit seventh in the table with 16 points from 14 games and in real danger of missing next year's finals in Qatar.
DOHA — On the outskirts of Doha, low-rise apartment blocks are starting to take shape that will house many of the soccer fans due to descend on the Qatari capital next year for the World Cup 2022.
Qatar, which has been in the spotlight for its treatment of migrant workers on construction sites, hopes the tournament will attract 1.2 million visitors, roughly a third of its population.
The past two European champions could have to play against each other in a playoff for a place at next year’s World Cup as a consequence of failing to secure automatic qualification this week.
Both Italy, who won the continental title in July, and Portugal, who were winners of Euro 2016, will be on tenterhooks as they await the outcome of the draw for the March playoffs for the 12 European countries who remain in contention for three places at the World Cup.
Over halfway through Concacaf World Cup qualifying and only one nation remains unbeaten: table-topping Canada, which began this entire cycle ranked 73rd in the world and needing to navigate beyond Suriname in the first round and Haiti in the second to even be present in the Octagonal.
The U.S. has had its share of misfortune in Concacaf World Cup qualifying matches. For once, the nonsense that goes on during Concacaf games went the USMNT’s way.
At the time of writing this there’s no telling how the rest of the USMNT versus Jamaica in Kingston will play out, but it’s almost guaranteed what will live longest in the memory is Michail Antonio’s 100 mph howitzer from over 25 yards out to pull the Reggae Boyz level in the 22nd minute.
It’s hard to fault Tyler Adams for showing him inside when the danger level is so low, and it’s impossible to fault Zack Steffen — the ball is in the back of the net before he can even get into his dive animation.
There was every reason for Dutch stress on Tuesday evening: The ghost of the failed 2018 World Cup qualifying campaign; Saturday’s calamitous draw with 73rd-ranked Montenegro despite leading 2-0 with less than 10 minutes to play; Louis van Gaal’s bike accident on Sunday and fractured hip, forcing him to watch this key clash against Norway from a wheelchair in a box seat; an empty De Kuip in Rotterdam after the country entered a three-week lockdown period with Covid-19 cases soaring.
Well played Canada, well played.
Instead of scheduling a mid-November fixture at its usual home field in Toronto, the Canucks will be playing a crucial World Cup Qualifying match against Mexico on the frigid plains of Alberta.