Canada shattered expectations on Thursday, routing Qatar 6-0 in front of a roaring BC Place crowd. Coach Jesse Marsch urged fans to "strap in" after questioning striker Jonathan David’s form, and the Canadian forward answered with a first‑world‑cup hat‑trick. The result marked the men's team's inaugural World Cup victory.

The opening goal arrived when Cyle Larin tapped in a rebound inside 16 minutes, making him the first Canadian man to net two World Cup goals. David added a first‑half volley and a close‑range finish before halftime, while Mohammad Al Mannai capitalised on a Shaffelburg own‑goal for the fifth tally. Two Qatar players saw red cards, underscoring Canada’s dominance.

Mid‑match drama unfolded as Ismaël Koné left the field with a broken leg, a blow to the squad’s spine. Marsch described the injury as “a massive loss,” and teammate Nathan Saliba lifted Koné’s shirt in a somber tribute. Despite the setback, Canada set a new record with 97 touches inside the opponent’s box, eclipsing the previous World Cup high.

Opta data confirmed Canada became the first non‑European, non‑South American side to score five or more goals in a single tournament match. The win positions them atop Group B, with a showdown against Switzerland next week offering a path to the round of 32 and a potential knockout debut on home soil.