2026 World Cup explained in 60 seconds
This is the longest World Cup ever. Here’s how to make sense of it all, even if you don’t know anything about soccer.
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Editor’s note: Follow along for live updates from the Canada-Qatar match at the 2026 World Cup!
VANCOUVER — Those who watch Canadian soccer hope that striker Jonathan David’s recent scoring drought will come to an end in Canada’s second World Cup match, its first at BC Place.
David has a better chance than ever to get back in form playing against Qatar, a team that allowed eight goals across four matches in its World Cup history.
There is no bigger stage for David to come through as Canada pursues its first World Cup win as a nation, but that means recent past history has to change.
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David sits goalless after four World Cup matches in his career, including a performance in Canada’s tie against Bosnia and Herzegovina highlighted by his single shot on goal in 61 minutes of playing time. Regardless of recent results, Canadian head coach Jesse Marsch’s confidence in his front man has not faltered.
“He’s not done scoring, people,” Marsch said. “Just put your seat belts on and get ready.”
Marsch believes that once David heats up, teams will have trouble containing the goalscorer.
“In the biggest games, we want him to score, and he will, and he has, and he won’t stop,” Marsch said.
If David does go on to score for Canada, keep an eye out for his celebration. He may take a pink rose, hold it to his face, then lift it into the air in honor of his late mother, Rose, who passed away due to skin cancer in 2019.
David first performed the heartwarming tribute after scoring the game-winning goal for French club Lille against Bordeaux in a 3-2 thriller on Dec. 22, 2021. That December marked the two-year anniversary of Rose’s death.
David might only be 26 years old, but he is Canada’s all-time leading goal scorer. He moved quickly onto the scene, scoring six goals and assisting two for Canada in the 2019 Gold Cup, but his goal-scoring pace has slowed down recently.
After a strong career with Lille, David has entered a dry spell for both club and nation. He joined Italian club Juventus and put up eight goals and five assists. He scored just two goals in Canada’s 10 most recent matches.
But this might be a golden opportunity for David to find his form again against what is perceived as a nation with a weak defense.
Qatar hosted the 2022 World Cup and let in at least two goals per game in the group stage. In Qatar’s opening match of the 2026 World Cup, it took Switzerland only 17 minutes to score.
David came through when his team needed for Lille during the 2020-21 season, scoring the only goal in the club’s 1-0 win against French giant Paris Saint-Germain. This result put his club first in the league with eight matches to play, a position that Lille held on to to win their first French league title in 10 years.
This match will tell if David can step up for his country as he did for his club back in 2021.
Derek Oliveros is a student in the University of Georgia’s Carmical Sports Media Institute.
