What to know
- Team Canada reached the Round of 16 after beating South Africa 1-0 at the Men’s FIFA World Cup for the first time in history.
- The team’s performance drew praise from political leaders, celebrities and past players across the country.
- Canada’s run included a dominating win over Qatar and a hard-fought draw with Bosnia & Herzegovina.
- The achievement is being hailed as a turning point for soccer in Canada, inspiring a new generation of fans and athletes.
- Canada lost to Morocco 3-0 in the Round of 16, played at the Houston Stadium in Texas, U.S.A.
Team Canada might not have won the World Cup, but the team’s efforts and historic achievement, including reaching the Round of 16, won over Canadian hearts.
On Saturday afternoon, Canada played Morocco in the Round of 16. Canada stood strong before halftime, keeping Morocco from scoring. But after halftime, Morocco scored three points and took home the match.
Despite the loss, Canada has had a great run, tying 1-1 with Bosnia & Herzegovina, winning 6-0 against Qatar, and 1-0 against South Africa – making Team Canada advance to the Round of 16 for the first time in the Men’s FIFA World Cup.
Following Saturday’s 3-0 loss to Morocco, political leaders, athletes and public figures from across the country thanked Canada’s men’s national team for delivering the nation’s deepest-ever FIFA World Cup run and inspiring millions of Canadians along the way.
From Prime Minister Mark Carney to former World Cup players, many described the tournament as a defining moment for soccer in Canada.
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Canada Soccer thanked supporters shortly after the final whistle, expressing gratitude to the fans who backed the team throughout its historic tournament.
That message was quickly followed by tributes from political leaders, former players and well-known Canadians celebrating what many described as a watershed moment for the sport.
Canada’s Prime Minister, Mark Carney, shared his pride in Team Canada’s World Cup run and thanked the team and fans.
Nothing but pride for @CANMNT_Official today.
— Mark Carney (@MarkJCarney) July 4, 2026
An incredible run and a sign of what’s to come.
Thank you to our team, the fans, and everyone who made this World Cup showing our best yet.
Astronaut Chris Hadfield also added in a thank you paragraph, thanking “the superb play and the enduring national inspiration.”
From over 200 eligible countries, Canada was in the qualifying 48, won through to the round of 32, and won into the knockout round of 16. Every nation will eventually get beaten save just one, and Canada did better than ever before. Thank you, @CANMNT_Official men, for the superb… https://t.co/kCqNwF3IdL
— Chris Hadfield (@Cmdr_Hadfield) July 4, 2026
Team Canada’s head coach, Jesse Marsch, shared his love for Team Canada.
“My love of this team and these players and representing this country is immense,” he said.
"My love of this team and these players and representing this country is immense" ❤️🇨🇦
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) July 4, 2026
Jesse Marsch's love for Canada has no bounds. #FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/wnPHJtgUTZ
Canadian soccer player who played in the 2022 FIFA World Cup, Kamal Miller, also shared a few words, saying he’s “gutted” for his brothers, but that the team has made Canada proud.
I’m so gutted for my brothers 💔 so many thoughts and questions. Regardless of the result this group of men made our country proud ❤️🙏🏾 This is a huge step forward for the beautiful game in 🇨🇦 We WILL be back stronger ⚔️
— Kamal Miller (@KMillz_00) July 4, 2026
Ontario’s Prime Minister Doug Ford has also congratulated Team Canada for an “incredible, historic run,” saying they’ve created an entire generation of new fans, and that Canadian soccer’s future is brighter for it.
Congratulations to @CANMNT_Official on an incredible, historic run. You’ve created an entire generation of new fans and the future of Canadian soccer is brighter for it.
— Doug Ford (@fordnation) July 4, 2026
“A tough result, but an amazing run,” Leader of the Official Opposition of Canada Pierre Polievre wrote in an X post.
He shared that Canada’s team showed grit, heart, and pride, and inspired millions of fans on their run, making the country proud.
A tough result, but an amazing run.
— Pierre Poilievre (@PierrePoilievre) July 4, 2026
Canada’s men’s national team showed grit, heart, and pride on the world stage, inspiring millions of fans here at home.
You made our country proud.
Thank you, Team Canada 🇨🇦 https://t.co/KMbix0pSUf
“Soccer in Canada is forever on a new level,” Councillor Brad Bradford said on an X post.
He thanked Team Canada for inspiring the next generation of Canadian soccer players on that same post.
Soccer in Canada is forever on a new level.@CANMNT_Official, thank you for leaving everything on the pitch and inspiring the next generation of Canadian soccer players here in Toronto and across our great country.
— Brad Bradford (@BradMBradford) July 4, 2026
Our boys made history, united
a nation, and showed the world… https://t.co/jmgq5aehTc
Councillor Josh Matlow also shared how proud he is of Team Canada, saying “they went further, and better, than ever before.”
Our Canadian team did us proud. It was a historic run. They went further, and better, than ever before. 🇨🇦
— Josh Matlow (@JoshMatlow) July 4, 2026
