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TORONTO – Once again, Canada is watching the World Cup from the sideline
The Canadians, currently ranked 79th in the world, have qualified for the 1986 World Cup once only. Soviet Union and came out without scoring a goal.
Mexico (16 appearances at the World Cup) and the United States (10) were the traditional heavyweights of CONCACAF, which covers North and Central America and the Caribbean. five), Honduras (three) and El Salvador (two) are the only other CONCACAF teams to have participated more than once in the World Cup finals.
With Canada co-hosting the 2026 World Cup alongside Mexico and the United States is likely – though it's not confirmed yet. The expansion to a field of 48 teams will also help Canada's chances in 2026 and beyond.
But the Canadian Soccer Association wants to enter through the front door in upcoming tournaments, including 2022. And there is new blood in the program. He was replaced by men's coach John Herdman, who left the female side in January
Here is the detailed plan of Canada Soccer to get there, as detailed by Herdman, technical director Jason deVos and the Secretary General Peter Montopoli.
BETTER IN CONCACAF
Herdman says that although Canada can never compete with football culture and Mexico figures or the dollars available in the United States, "there are things in Canada where we can excel. 19659002] This includes areas such as sports science and mental preparation, with Herdman listing names like Penny Werthner, Ceri Evans, Ian Renshaw, Nicola Hodges.
"We have the resources, we have the people," said Herdman, known to leave no stone unturned. "And we have a clear model based on the success of the National Women's Team, which has been able to use a lot of these resources and many lessons have been left behind."
It also means leaving little chance. While coaching Canadian women, currently ranked fifth in the world. Herdman is getting closer to timing and stadium traffic at tournaments.
TALENT PIPELINE
While Canada is geographically huge, Herdman says the number of football leaders is low. This means that the number of people to influence – or convinced – to join the national vision is smaller than many other countries with a series of leagues and regulatory bodies. Although it's harder than anyone to look in any direction, Herdman believes that the organization of the 2026 World Cup will help give the necessary momentum.
Herdman, who has been successful in identifying the talent of young women, is considering a clear path for players, integrating new migrants into the soccer system or following Canadians who have moved abroad.
The first Canadian league, the new men's professional league that will begin next spring, offers another piece of the course.
STRATEGIC APPROACH
Herdman says Canada Soccer is seeking to "streamline our systems behind the scenes" to avoid duplication or conflicting messages. This includes everything needed to lead a team at a tournament to what Canada expects from each field position.
Herdman and badistant Mauro Biello, former Canadian international coach and Montreal Impact coach, are looking to lead the way. They were captivated by a Canadian under 21 who made a surprising sixth place in his first appearance at the prestigious Toulon Youth Tournament
"Mauro and I are ready not to sit in the tower. Ivory, beware of the game and face the 23 players (seniors), explains Herdman. "We are here to build a system, we are here to lay the foundation for 2026. We are here to influence what is goes to the provincial level. "
Herdman's support team will be more or less the same, he says
BOTTOM UP
DeVos, a former captain of the team Canadian National, preaches change at the youngest level of football
Its goal is to train and develop as many coaches as possible at the local level who understand this player.Development is not linear – the best of eight years will not necessarily be the best aged 18.
"It's from top to bottom, sideways and it's going on in fits and starts," DeVos says.
Imposing a results-based framework for adults does not work, he argues. Its purpose is to give young players "access to good environments", to change structures and rules along the way if necessary.
"We should create environments in which they can fall in love with the game, play with their friends"
"This notion that everyone can predict where a child is going to be in five, 10 or 15 years is laughable, nobody can do it. We are deselecting children from competency-based programs by the age of seven … These are the lessons that have been taught to us by other nations who weigh above their weight, who are successful.
In the past, most coaching courses were designed to work with seasoned players. Now, Canada Soccer is creating coaching license courses that are more age-appropriate.
"A 10-year-old child is not a child of 20 years in miniature" says deVos
Like Herdman, deVos comes out a list. Joe Cote, Joe Baker, Adam Baxter-Jones and Tracy Vaillancourt
"We reached out to them and said," Can you help us?
"Hot-housing" the best 12-year-old in the country does not translate into a crop of best professionals, he argues.
Instead of creating good environments, providing good coaches, letting young players percolate and allow them to have fun, and deVos believes that Canada will have a larger pool of talent.
AN INCREASING TIDE
All three say that Canada's success in the ranks of women is a resource that can only facilitate men's play. They believe that sharing knowledge and best practices can be a benefit.
Herdman brought female coach Kenneth Heiner-Moller to Canada Soccer Division, so the ties are already strong. Montopoli believes Canada is already a leader in the development of a symbiotic relationship between the two national teams
Although hockey can be king in Canada, there are more registered soccer players than hockey players. And Montopoli notes that Canadians rank 12th among all countries in terms of buying tickets for the World Cup in Russia.
"I think the sport is incredibly relevant," says Montopoli. it has the relevance of men's and women's football, "he adds.
Follow @NeilMDavidson on Twitter
Neil Davidson, The Canadian Press
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