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Canada earned its first-ever victory at the men’s World Cup with a 6-0 win over Qatar Thursday.
Thousands of fans inside Vancouver’s BC Place became a sea of red, cheering on the home team as forward Jonathan David recorded a hat trick, the first recorded by a CONCACAF player at the World Cup in nearly 100 years.
Midfielder Ismael Kone suffered a lower-body injury early in the second half that required him to be carted off the field and be sent to hospital.
Canada will face Switzerland in Vancouver next Wednesday in their third and final game of the group stage.
Here’s everything that happened on Thursday:
The party was on at fan festivals across the Lower Mainland Thursday, but the pedestrian zone on Granville Street felt like the epicentre.
“I’ve never seen the city like this,” one fan told CTV News. “Everyone’s out. Everyone’s happy.”
And they had good reason to be, with Canada thrashing Qatar 6-0 to claim its first World Cup win in style.
CTV News Vancouver’s St. John Alexander was on Granville Street to soak up the atmosphere.
Outside B.C. Place after the match, the mood was much the same. CTV News Vancouver’s Kevin Charach spoke to fans who travelled from Montreal to witness history.
It was a similar story at Soccer Canada House on the North Shore, where CTV News Vancouver’s Ben Miljure was on scene.
In Surrey, CTV News Vancouver’s Demetra Maragos joined the party in Civic Plaza.
And, of course, the new amphitheatre at the PNE was rocking for the official FIFA Fan Festival Vancouver. CTV News Vancouver’s Isabella Zavarise was on hand for that party.
Ian Holliday, CTVNewsVancouver.ca
After seven games without a victory, the Canadian men’s soccer team has finally won a match at the World Cup.
The victory, which all but secured Canada a trip to the knockout stage, immediately earned a place among the national team’s greatest moments, though celebrations were tempered by a serious injury to midfielder Ismaël Koné.
From qualifying on a cold day in Newfoundland in 1985 to the women’s team claiming gold in the Tokyo Olympics, here’s a look at some of the other standout moments:
The Canadian Press
Prime Minister Mark Carney greeted the team in the locker room after the historic win, praising players both for their performance and their sportsmanship—particularly after Ismaël Koné’s injury.
“You showed a level of character some people never achieve in their life, and you showed it when the entire country—and a good part of the world—was watching,” Carney said.
He also praised Koné’s conduct as he was taken away on a stretcher.
“He applauds the fans coming off, he shakes the hands of the Qataris coming off,” Carney said. “I couldn’t be prouder as a Canadian. On behalf of all Canadians, I want to thank you.”
Andrew Weichel, CTVNewsVancouver.ca
The crowd at Toronto’s Fan Festival are ecstatic after Canada’s men’s team scored their first-ever World Cup win, dominating Qatar 6-0.
“I love Canada. This means so much to me. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience. I can’t believe it,” one fan tells CP24’s Sijia Liu.
Another fan says, “It’s the best day in Canadian soccer history.”
Many fans are now looking ahead to Canada’s match against Switzerland next week in Vancouver.
“Switzerland, we’re coming for you,” one fan says.
Bryann Aguilar, CP24.com/CTVNewsToronto.ca journalist
A roar went up from the B.C. Place crowd as the final whistle blew on a historic afternoon for Canada.
A first World Cup win would have been historic on its own, but Canada did it in style, pummelling Qatar 6-0 behind a hat trick from Jonathan David and goals from Cyle Larin, Nathan Saliba and an own goal created by Jacob Shaffelburg.
David is the first player from a host nation to score a hat trick in a World Cup since Geoff Hurst did so for England in the final match of the 1966 tournament, according to the TSN broadcast.
The only blemish for Canada was the serious injury to midfielder Ismaël Koné in the second half. Koné was stretchered off the pitch and taken to hospital.
Ian Holliday, CTVNewsVancouver.ca
BC Place was officially sold out Thursday—packing 52,497 people into the stadium for the Canada-Qatar match.
The vast majority of the crowd was cheering for the home team, but there was a contingent of Qatari fans in attendance.
Canada dominated the match, earning the team its first-ever World Cup win—giving red-and-white clad fans something truly historic to celebrate.
Lisa Steacy, CTVNewsVancouver.ca
The Canada House watch party in Toronto is in a celebratory mood as Jonathan David scores his third goal of the match to record a hat trick against Qatar.
Bryann Aguilar, CP24.com/CTVNewsToronto.ca journalist
Jonathan David has completed his hat trick, controlling a hard shot from Nathan Saliba in the Qatar penalty area and turning to slot the ball home.
It’s the 56th hat trick in World Cup history, according to the TSN broadcast, and only the second by a player from CONCACAF (soccer’s governing body for North and Central America and the Caribbean). The last one happened in 1930.
Canada leads 6-0.
Ian Holliday, CTVNewsVancouver.ca
Jacob Shaffelburg’s shot deflected off a Qatar defender and ended up in the back of the net for an own goal, giving Canada a 5-0 lead in the 75th minute.
If this score holds, it will be the largest margin of victory for any CONCACAF team in World Cup history.
Ian Holliday, CTVNewsVancouver.ca
Ismaël Koné’s leg has been stabilized and he has been taken to hospital in Vancouver, according to the TSN broadcast.
Ian Holliday, CTVNewsVancouver.ca
Nathan Saliba has extended Canada’s advantage, scoring from a direct free kick in the 64th minute.
After scoring, he ran to the Canadian bench and held up Ismaël Koné’s jersey for the crowd to see.
Saliba entered the match in place of Koné, who was stretchered off the field with a lower-body injury after a bad challenge that resulted in Qatar’s second red card.
Canada’s four goals exceed the total the country had scored in all its previous World Cup games combined. The team was shut out in all of its matches in 1986, and scored only one goal in group stage matches against Croatia and Morocco in the 2022 tournament in Qatar.
Ian Holliday, CTVNewsVancouver.ca
In the 52nd minute, Canadian midfielder Ismaël Koné was stretchered off the field with an injury to his left leg. Assim Madibo was assessed a red card on the play, leaving Qatar with nine men.
The Canadian Press
From fan marches to Canada’s goals—take a look back at how the day has unfolded.
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Lisa Steacy, CTVNewsVancouver.ca
The second-half kickoff has the match back in progress with Canada looking to build on its 3-0 lead.
Canada made a substitution at halftime, sending in defender Moise Bombito in place of Derek Cornelius, who picked up a yellow card early in the first half.
Ian Holliday, CTVNewsVancouver.ca
The first half has come to a close, and it was pretty much a perfect one for Team Canada.
Goals from Cyle Larin in the 16th minute and Jonathan David in the 29th and the third minute of stoppage time have Canada well on its way to a first-ever World Cup win.
Meanwhile, Qatar has been reduced to 10 players after a 33rd minute red card to Homam Ahmed.
Switzerland’s 4-1 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina has that nation at the top of Group B, but a victory by four goals or more would put Canada ahead of the Swiss on goal differential. That would mean Canada would go into its final group stage match needing only a draw to win the group.
Ian Holliday, CTVNewsVancouver.ca
Andrew Johnson of CTV National News has a unique, pitchside view of today’s match. Here’s his video of the in-stadium reaction to Canada’s first goal.
Ian Holliday, CTVNewsVancouver.ca
It’s 3-0 to Canada now after another Jonathan David goal.
David scored his second on a rebound after Qatar’s goalkeeper pushed a Cyle Larin header onto the post. It was a reversal of the first goal, when Larin slotted home after a David shot was saved.
Ian Holliday, CTVNewsVancouver.ca
Tajon Buchanan was brought down on a breakaway and the referee pointed to the penalty spot, indicating a penalty kick for Canada in the 33rd minute.
After a review by the Video Assistant Referee, however, the penalty kick is called off. The foul happened outside of the penalty area, resulting in a free kick for Canada and a red card to Qatar’s Homam Ahmed for denying a goalscoring opportunity.
Qatar will play with 10 men for the rest of the match.
Ian Holliday, CTVNewsVancouver.ca
The Canada House watch party in Toronto is jumping for joy as Jonathan David netted another goal to extend the lead.
Bryann Aguilar, CP24.com/CTVNewsToronto.ca journalist
Canada has doubled its lead. Jonathan David volleyed a deflected pass from Tajon Buchanan past the Qatar goalkeeper at the near post.
Canada 2, Qatar 0.
Ian Holliday, CTVNewsVancouver.ca
Prime Minster Mark Carney shared a video on social media, showing him singing the national anthem at BC Place while sitting beside FIFA President Gianni Infantino.
Lisa Steacy, CTVNewsVancouver.ca
We’ve reached the first-half hydration break, with Canada leading 1-0 in the 25th minute.
The goal followed a fast-past opening to the match that saw Canada holding the bulk of possession and putting several crosses into the Qatar penalty area, while Qatar managed two dangerous looking counterattacks.
The second Qatar counter resulted in a free kick and a yellow card for Canadian defender Derek Cornelius.
Canada has never lost a match in which Cyle Larin has scored, according to the TSN broadcast.
Ian Holliday, CTVNewsVancouver.ca
Those watching the match at Canada House in Toronto’s Harbourfront Centre erupted in cheers when Brampton’s Cyle Larin scored in the 16th minute to give his team a 1-0 lead against Qatar.
Bryann Aguilar, CP24.com/CTVNewsToronto.ca journalist
Cyle Larin has given Canada a 1-0 lead in the 16th minute, pouncing on a rebound after Jonathan David’s shot was saved by the Qatar keeper.
Ian Holliday, CTVNewsVancouver.ca
Soccer fans coming together to cheer on Canada didn’t just gather at the stadium or on the streets of downtown Vancouver.
Thousands of red-and-white clad supporters assembled at Canada Soccer House in North Vancouver.
CTV News Vancouver’s Ben Miljure provides a virtual tour.
Lisa Steacy, CTVNewsVancouver.ca
After more than 50,000 in B.C. Place belted out “O Canada,” the countdown to the kickoff began.
The match is now underway. Watch live on TSN (subscription required).
Ian Holliday, CTVNewsVancouver.ca
We’re now minutes from kickoff and FIFA’s pre-match ceremonies have begun. The teams are gathered around the centre circle in B.C. Place, with giant representations of each country’s flag covering the rest of the pitch.
The Qatari national anthem, “As-Salam al-Amiri” will go first, followed by “O Canada.”
Ian Holliday, CTVNewsVancouver.ca
94.5 Virgin Radio’s Amy Spencer has a prediction for today’s huge Canada-Qatar FIFA World Cup match at BC Place.
CTV News Vancouver’s Ben Miljure gets her take while the radio station broadcasts live from Canada Soccer House in North Vancouver.
Lisa Steacy, CTVNewsVancouver.ca
Getting here was no easy feat—the 2026 FIFA World Cup took years of work and enormous sums of money.
Here’s a look back at the rollercoaster journey that led to Vancouver taking on part of the tournament’s massive hosting duties.
Mi-Jung Lee, CTV News Vancouver anchor
Qatar head coach Julen Lopetegui has named the same starting 11 that took the field against Switzerland and earned a 1-1 draw last weekend.
Ian Holliday, CTVNewsVancouver.ca
There’s just one hour to go until kickoff, and energy is buzzing on the walk to BC Place.
Chants of “olé olé olé” are ringing out as the Voyageurs lead fans to the stadium
CTV News Vancouver’s Penny Daflos is in the crowd and has this video to share:
Kaija Jussinoja, CTVNewsVancouver.ca
After 75 minutes of scoreless football, the dam broke in Los Angeles with five goals in the final 15 minutes plus stoppage time.
Switzerland ultimately claimed a 4-1 victory and took the Group B lead.
Ian Holliday, CTVNewsVancouver.ca
Team Canada has announced its starting lineup for today’s match against Qatar.
After his heroics coming off the bench in Toronto last week, Cyle Larin starts at forward alongside Jonathan David.
Alphonso Davies, who missed Canada’s first game while recovering from a hamstring injury sustained with his club team Bayern Munich last month, is on the bench.
Ian Holliday, CTVNewsVancouver.ca
Playing with a man advantage after a red card to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Switzerland has extended its lead to 2-0 with an 84th minute goal from substitute Rubén Vargas.
The Swiss seem on their way to claiming all three points from the match and taking the Group B lead.
Ian Holliday, CTVNewsVancouver.ca
A crowd of thousands has packed streets that are shut down to traffic, chanting, blowing trumpets and waving Canadian flags.
The Canadian Press
Switzerland has taken a 1-0 lead over Bosnia and Herzegovina in the 75th minute of the other Group B match currently happening in Los Angeles.
Johan Manzambi scored the goal for the Swiss, who will top the group with four points if they can hold on for the win.
Ian Holliday, CTVNewsVancouver.ca
The team just walked out of the tunnel and is gathered near centre field, appearing to just be taking in the atmosphere and walking the pitch less than two hours from kickoff.
Captain Alphonso Davies is with the team, and took of a photo of the stadium when he walked out.
There is a lot of excitement among fans that Davies has been clearest to play and may appear in a game for the first time since he re-injured his hamstring playing with Bayern Munich in May.
Andrew Johnson, CTV National News
CTV News has reporters stationed at watch parties across the region today, including at Canada Soccer House in North Vancouver.
Flags are waving and fans in white and red are arriving well in advance of kick off.
Ben Miljure, CTV News Vancouver journalist
When soccer fans watch a World Cup match at B.C. Place stadium, they’re focused on the speed and strategy on the pitch, but there are a handful of people keeping a close eye on the turf itself and how it’s holding up.
The two foremost are a veteran sod farmer in Abbotsford and the Englishman in the venue responsible for patching up any wear and tear between games.
In fact, when CTV News went to the venue to speak with Dale Frith, he had a long-handled garden fork he was using to tap the turf where ball strikes or players’ cleats had dented the blades, essentially fluffing the grass one coin-sized area at a time.
Penny Daflos, CTV News Vancouver journalist
It’s still more than two hours until kickoff and the official march to the match hasn’t started yet, but there’s already a steady stream of people—most clad in red Canada shirts—making their way to the stadium.
CTV News Vancouver’s Penny Daflos shares her impressions of the crowd downtown.
I’ll be posting some vibes of the fans heading to BC Place for the World Cup game with Canada vs Qatar here Pt 1 @ctvnewsvancouver.bsky.social
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Ian Holliday, CTVNewsVancouver.ca
Both Prime Minister Mark Carney and B.C. Premier David Eby will be in attendance for this afternoon’s match, but they also have their day jobs to attend to.
The pair made a housing announcement in South Vancouver’s River District neighbourhood—roughly a 30-minute drive from B.C. Place—at noon.
Ian Holliday, CTVNewsVancouver.ca
Canada’s other Group B opponents, Switzerland and Bosnia and Herzegovina, have kicked off their match in Los Angeles.
The Swiss drew 1-1 with Qatar in their opening match, leaving all four teams in the group tied at one point apiece. If either Switzerland or Bosnia and Herzegovina wins today’s match, they will claim three points and take the lead in Group B, putting pressure on Canada and Qatar to keep up.
Ian Holliday, CTVNewsVancouver.ca
Under four hours to kickoff and preparations are well underway at B.C. Place in Vancouver for Canada vs. Qatar. The flag ceremony and player introductions are being rehearsed on the field, and there are hundreds of staff and volunteers onsite.
There is also a heavy security presence, which will likely be heightened after the announcement that Prime Minister Mark Carney will be at tonight’s crucial Group B match.
In about two hours, thousands of Canadian fans will march together from the area near Science World, where the iconic dome built for Expo 86 has been transformed into a giant soccer ball.
Excitement is high in the city, where fans hope to witness history with Canada’s first-ever World Cup win for the men’s team.
Andrew Johnson, CTV National News
Police are out in force ahead of the Canada-Qatar match in Vancouver.
A staging area for officers, including RCMP and Vancouver police, at the southern foot of the Cambie Bridge is a hive of activity.
On- and off-ramps for the bridge, the closest downtown crossing to BC Place stadium, are already shut, and organizers are urging fans to leave their cars at home and take transit before the final walk to the stadium.
The Vancouver Police Department said roughly 1,200 officers were on duty for the first match in the city, crediting the large and visible presence with maintaining public order.
Only two arrests were linked World Cup activity last weekend, one at the FIFA Fan Fest at the PNE and one at BC Place.
Neither incident was violent, according to authorities.
Police from Edmonton and Calgary are among those who have been transported to Vancouver for the tournament.
The total policing price tag has not been revealed.
The Canadian Press and Lisa Steacy, CTVNewsVancouver.ca
Fans are already forming a long queue at the official FIFA Fan Festival in East Vancouver, where total tournament attendance is set to surge past the 100,000 mark. Organizers say more than 98,000 fans have attended up to today, with highest attendance of 31,481 on Saturday. Gates opened at the festival at 10 a.m. Pacific time ahead of Switzerland’s match with Bosnia-Herzegovina, followed by the hotly anticipated Canada-Qatar match.
The Canadian Press
A number of match day road closures are in effect around BC Place stadium today.
In addition, the stretch of Granville Street between Davie and Georgia streets is closed to traffic for the duration of the tournament.
The first match in Vancouver saw transit ridership surge to a level not seen since the 2010 Olympics, and TransLink is reminding anyone heading to the game or to a fan zone or watch party about service changes meant to make it easier and quicker to get around.
Lisa Steacy, CTVNewsVancouver.ca
Prime Minister Mark Carney is shifting gears today as he goes from one of the world’s largest political events to the world’s biggest sporting event.
Carney is just back from the G7 Summit in France meeting with top world leaders, and is in Vancouver today where he’ll attend the World Cup match between Canada and Qatar.
The Canadian Press
The City of Toronto says the opening of the FIFA Fan Festival will be delayed today due to “impacts of recent severe weather.” In a statement, Sharon Bollenbach, the FIFA World Cup 2026 Toronto Secretariat, said the festival will open at 4 p.m. as more time is needed to get the site ready. Full story here.
Codi Wilson, CTVNewsToronto.ca / CP24.com
Premier David Eby reaffirmed Thursday that the World Cup will deliver $1 billion in economic spinoffs for the province, telling CTV News much of that revenue will benefit the tourism and hospitality industries.
Other benefits to the province are harder to measure, including “long-term community-building soccer vibes,” Eby said.
Todd Coyne, CTVNewsVancouver.ca
The pressure ramps up as the second stage of group-stage games begins at the FIFA World Cup. Thursday’s action features nations in Group A and Group B — including Canada — playing the second of three group-stage games, which will go a long way in determining their chances of advancing to the knockout stage.
As a reminder, the top two teams in each of the 12 groups will earn automatic entries into the Round of 32 with the top eight third-place teams receiving the last spots.
Read a full breakdown of today’s slate on TSN.ca here.
Members of the Voyageurs — Soccer Canada’s support group that organizes big, loud, colourful marches to national team matches — have flocked to Vancouver for today’s match.
They are inviting anyone who wants to help cheer on the team to join them at Fionn McCool’s Irish Pub near Science World at 12:30 p.m. in advance of a march down the last mile route to BC Place stadium.
Shannon Paterson, CTVNewsVancouver.ca
Canadian men’s soccer team captain Alphonso Davies has the green light to play in today’s World Cup match against Qatar in Vancouver.
But will he?
The Canadian Press
Despite the naysayers, FIFA vice-president Victor Montagliani says he knew Canada had a shot at hosting the World Cup from the beginning.
The CONCACAF president, who grew up in East Vancouver, was one of the leading voices behind Canada’s bid in 2012, and now the vision is coming to fruition 14 years later.
“I think our country is built on immigrants, and this sport really reflects that,” he told CTV Your Morning Vancouver on Thursday, ahead of Team Canada’s first match in the city.
“The hardest challenge was making sort of the leaders of certain institutions understand what this could mean, but to their credit they bought in … and obviously now we’re seeing the fruits of that labour.”
Kaija Jussinoja, CTVNewsVancouver.ca
Teams playing World Cup matches today will take part in an International Day for Countering Hate Speech commemoration, with captains exchanging pennants bearing the message “We Play Together. We Stand Against Hate.”
FIFA says it has deleted more than 30 million abusive social media posts and comments since launching its protection service before the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. The governing body says nearly 400,000 negative or abusive posts have already been removed during the opening days of this year’s tournament.
–The Canadian Press
Qatar didn’t just bring a team to Vancouver — it paid to bring a cheering section, too. About 1,000 fans arrived on an all-expenses-paid trip funded through a Qatari government-backed program, filling downtown hotels and adding a soundtrack of traditional darbuka drums ahead of tonight’s World Cup match against Canada.
The Canadian Press
World Cup action continues Thursday with Czechia facing South Africa at noon in Atlanta, followed by Switzerland against Bosnia-Herzegovina at 3 p.m. in Inglewood, Calif. Canada meets Qatar at 6 p.m. in Vancouver with both sides chasing their first World Cup victory after opening-round draws.
The day’s schedule wraps up at 9 p.m. in Guadalajara, Mexico, where Mexico takes on South Korea in a matchup that could decide control of Group A.
The Canadian Press
Both countries drew 1-1 in their opening matches of the tournament. Canada trailed Bosnia and Herzegovina from the 21st minute until Cyle Larin scored the equalizer in the 78th.
Qatar trailed even longer in its opener against Switzerland, falling behind in the 17th minute and drawing level through an own-goal in the fourth minute of second-half stoppage time.
The results left all four nations in Group B tied on one point apiece, meaning control of the group is up for grabs as Bosnia and Herzegovina takes on Switzerland at noon in Los Angeles.
A first-ever World Cup win for either Canada or Qatar would put the victorious country in an excellent position to advance to the Round of 32. The team that finishes at the top of Group B will play its first knockout match in Vancouver on July 2.
Lisa Steacy, CTVNewsVancouver.ca
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