After 36 years of waiting, Canada has finally managed to qualify for the FIFA World Cup.
And the Canadian national soccer team did it in superb fashion, topping a very tough CONCACAF group ahead of Mexico, USA, and Costa Rica. Canada had an 11-game unbeatable run, and they lost for the first time when it was pretty clear they sealed a World Cup spot. After such an impressive campaign, Canadians wish to go beyond a group stage in Qatar. But, how do the bookies see their chances of producing an upset? We have analyzed the estimates and dive into more details about Canada’s odds at the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Where to Find the Best World Cup Betting Bonuses?
The 2022 FIFA World Cup is the biggest soccer event this year, and fans can’t wait for November and the tournament kick-off. They will want their national teams to do well in the competition, and everybody will have their favorites. Of course, World Cup will generate many bets, which is not surprising since this is the most famous soccer competition. Therefore, many sportsbooks will have special deals for their customers to place their wagers on this competition.
Thanks to the World Cup betting bonuses, bettors can extend their wagering experience and get more chances to make profits. You can find bonuses for Canadian players specially tailored for World Cup events. Those operators are legal and safe for Canadian bettors and should offer the best betting experience. Punters should take advantage of these deals to boost their bankrolls and increase their chances of being profitable from World Cup betting.
Can Canada Provide the Biggest WC Upset?
In World Cup history, no team outside Europe and South America managed to win it. However, that shouldn’t prevent other countries from dreaming about their chances of winning the title. Although Canada is not among the favorites to win the tournament, progressing to the knockout round is a genuine expectation. However, Canada won’t have an easy task in Group F, where they will face Belgium, Croatia, and Morocco. Looking at the FIFA Rankings, all three rivals are ranked better than Canada, but that won’t count much after the tournament kick-off.
Four years ago, Croatia finished as runners-up, suffering a defeat against France in the finals. Belgium also lost against the current World Cup title holders but in the semi-finals. Therefore, Canada will have to come on top of these formidable rivals to secure the top-two finish in the group stage. Although Morocco is not a part of the top-tier national teams, they are ranked 24th on the FIFA Rankings, 14 places ahead of Canada.
Considering Canada’s latest performances, the national team has a realistic chance of qualifying for the knockout stage. Bookies offer the odds around +275 on Canada’s top-two finish. However, the odds are much longer when it comes to winning the tournament. If Canada lifts the trophy, bettors who believe in that outcome might expect the odds of +25,000. Nevertheless, these odds are on pair with most of the teams from Pot 3, while Canada was drawn from Pot 4. Despite long odds, Canada hopes for a positive campaign in the tournament, and if they enter the knockout phase, anything is possible. Moreover, Canada’s odds of winning the competition have been dropping over time, and they might drop a bit more before the World Cup starts.
Canada’s 2022 FIFA World Cup Golden Boot Odds
Besides the team-related outright wagers, there are many individual markets in the World Cup betting offer. Perhaps the most popular one is the Golden Boot winner, or in other words, the tournament’s top scorer. FIFA World Cup is a great chance to see soccer superstars in one place, and there are many candidates to win this prestigious award. Nevertheless, Canada also has plenty of talent in its national team.
Alphonso Davies is perhaps the biggest star on the Canadian national soccer team, but according to bookmakers, Jonathan David has the best chance among Canadian players to win the Golden Boot award. The prices are around +10,000, which is a long shot but are on par with Angel di Maria’s or Heung-min Son’s chances of winning the award. David currently plays for Lille in French Ligue 1, and this 22-year-old forward has already shown his goalscoring capabilities in the French top flight.
Canada’s WC Projected Roster
Canada has a pretty well-balanced team, and if there are no major surprises, we should see veteran goalkeeper Milan Borjan between the sticks. He was instrumental in Canada’s quals campaign, bringing points with magnificent last-minute saves on several occasions. Maxime Crepeau should be there as a backup goalkeeper if Borjan misses for any reason.
Canada should play in a formation with four or five defenders depending on the tactics. Sam Adekugbe should own the left side, while Richie Laryea or Alistair Johnston should take a right full-back position. In the formation of five defenders, Johnston could also play as a center-back next to Laryea. Canada is a bit short on the center-back post, and 35-year-old Steven Vitoria should pair with Kamal Miller in the starting lineup.
Regarding the middle of the park, Canada should have many doubts about the starters. Stephen Eustaquio and Atiba Hutchinson should boss the midfield, while Mark-Anthony Kaye and Jonathan Osorio have the best chance to get some playing time as well.
Canada is loaded with talent in the final third of the pitch. Despite being just 21, Alphonso Davies is among the best Canadian soccer players. The Bayern Munich star will hold the left flank, while his versatility can also help when the opponent has possession. Tajon Buchanan should be the starter on the right wing, while manager John Herdman will likely pair Jonathan David and Cyle Larin as strikers.
Conclusion
With so much talent on its roster, Canada might pull off a surprise or two in the upcoming FIFA World Cup in Qatar. Although Canada is not among the favorites to win the tournament, they are definitely a team to watch since it won’t be easy for their opponents. Mexico and the United States have already felt that on their skins in the CONCACAF qualifiers.
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