Fans react as Canada lands challenging World Cup group

Soccer fans react as the official 2026 World Cup draw sets Canada’s group-stage opponents for next summer. Jacob Carr reports.

Excited shouts rang through the Lobby Kitchen & Bar on Friday as Team Canada learned it will face Qatar in its group at the upcoming World Cup.

Qatar is ranked 51st in the world by FIFA. Canada sits at No. 27.

The first team drawn into Canada’s Group B was Switzerland, ranked 17th.

“Jesse Marsch [Team Canada’s Manager] has said many times we can’t be afraid of anybody. You don’t want the biggest dogs, but everybody is going to be tough,” said Team Canada supporter Jamie Neugebauer.

“Whoever Canada plays, they’ll have to be at their best to get results. That’s just the way it goes. It should be fun.”

The final team drawn into Group B was selected by Canadian hockey legend Wayne Gretzky.

Fans at the Lobby weren’t thrilled with the pick as Gretzky drew the winner of Playoff Group A, which includes Northern Ireland, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Wales and 12th-ranked Italy.

“When you’re going up against a team that’s won multiple World Cups, that’s maybe not what you want,” said Rob Notenboom, another Canada supporter.

“Maybe you don’t want Canada vs. Italy in Toronto, because you might not have the home-field advantage you’re hoping for at a home World Cup.”

On both StubHub and SeatGeek, the cheapest tickets for Canada’s opening match on June 12 at BMO Field in Toronto were listed at about $2,500.

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Despite the steep prices, Notenboom told CTV News he has already booked tickets for all three of Canada’s group-stage matches.

“It’s very expensive,” he said.

“But it’s a home World Cup. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime thing.”

Canada’s second and third group-stage matches, against Qatar and Switzerland, will be played at BC Place in Vancouver.

The reaction among Canadian fans following the draw was largely optimistic, with many believing the team has a realistic chance to advance.

“If we were a betting website, Canada should be a favourite to get out of the group,” Neugebauer said.

“That being said, at some point this group has to prove it can come up with big results in big games.”

The expanded 48-team tournament will send 32 nations to the knockout stage before crowning a champion at MetLife Stadium on July 19.