KEY TAKEAWAYS 🔑 What we learned from CanMNT 🇨🇦 vs. Suriname 🇸🇷 | Presented by tonybet

[@robswystun2766]

Thanks for giving Kamal Miller a shoutout. We appreciate that kind of effort here in Canada, especially in a sport where the best team in the world routinely flops around like a bunch of dying fish every chance they get.

[@jrcanuck1]

It amazes me that we have gotten so used to playing in the U.S. in all tournaments, that nobody, not even Canadians, acknowledge or think about the fact that the U.S. have a huge advantage before the matches in March are even close to being played & NO, it is not an excuse, as it is a ridiculous reality. The biggest problem with the Nations League & Gold cups, is that it all favours the Americans, big time! Over 95% of their matches are played at home. Canada probably plays less than 15% at home. The Copa Americas matches were all played in the U.S. this year & the playoffs in the 2026 World cup will be played there too. When ranking teams, nobody talks about that huge advantage. The Americans do not play well on the road. Just look at the 2022 CONCACAF Qualifiers for the World cup, where teams played each of the other teams home & away. Canada finished #1. The U.S. tied Costa Rica for 4th place in points. Look at what just happened in these quarter finals in the Nations League cup in the past week. The 4 favourite teams (Canada, USA, Mexico & Panama) all played much better at home than they did on the road; but still, the semifinals & finals will be played in the USA. Canada has the best record in the semifinals & overall this year, so the semifinals should be played in Canada (Vancouver for better weather)... FIFA & CONCACAF are only driven by greed & Money. Then, if it has to remain fixed inbthe U.D.' favour, at the very least, there should really be some kind of a handicap for rankings, for teams playing on the road in all CONCACAF tournaments, because rankings matter, as FIFA rankings help determine how difficult a group those countries will finally end up in, for the 2026 World cup. Canada ended up in the 'Group of Death' in the 2022 World cup, partially because of their poor ranking, despite having finished #1 in the Qualifiers...

[@djknox2]

The ELO ratings take into account home or away of matches. On that list, Canada is now ahead of the USA, Mexico and Panama. Canada is #26...

[@jrcanuck1]

​@@djknox2, yes, which is great; but unfortunately the FIFA rankings are the ones used for the seeding, as to which group Canada will play in, for the World cup. Although Canada's chances of getting an easier group should be greatly improved, since FIFA is adding 16 additional teams to the 2026 World cup, going from 32 teams that participated in the 2022 World cup, to 48 in 2026.

[@djknox2]

@@jrcanuck1 FIFA rankings won't matter for Canada in the 2026 WC - they are hosts and will be seeded in pot 1 regardless of ranking - actually already in Group B 🙂. It will come down to luck what teams they drawing from pots B, C and D. Pot B will likely have teams ranked approx 10 thru 21. That could be teams like Germany, Uruguay, Croatia, Colombia, Morocco, Japan, Senegal, Denmark, Iran, Switzerland, Korea, Austria. I would expect Canada to likely finish 2nd in group B. For the R32, B2 plays A2 - likely Mexico who is seeded in Group A. If Canada wants an easy R32, the will need to win their group and then play a 3rd place team in Vancouver. Chances of Canada winning their group are not good, but it depends on what pot B team they draw. I think a lucky pot B draw into Canada's group will give them a good chance to get through to the R16 round, and maybe even a QF depending on that R16 match up. The World Cup is tough brother...

[@jrcanuck1]

@@djknox2 , thanks! I wasn't aware that the seeding arrangement was already decided upon, given the 16 new teams. I will be curious to see how many teams will be in each group & how many from each group will move on to the next round. Yes, the World cup is very tough; but it will be fun to see the matches being played in North America. Homefield advantage at last! Canada'srecord at BMO is excellent!

[@djknox2]

@@jrcanuck1The format is 12 groups of 4 with 32 teams advancing to the R16 - top 2 from each group + best 8 3rd place finishers. 3rd place finishers meet group winners in the R32. 2nd place finishers meet either other 2nd place finishers or group winners. Seeding isn't decided, other than USA, MEX and CAN are seeded as hosts... Canada gets their opener at BMO and then the next 2 matches at BC Place. R32 and R16 can also be at BC Place but only if they win their group. Otherwise, they'll be off to California...

[@albertherz]

Agree with Ollie. How about a new winning song

[@alexlazaridisf.7276]

It was a great performance by Canada. Yes complete. But let's remember how poor the opposition was. Same goes for USA's dominant performance over a weekend Jamaica side missing some of it's best players. I think Mexico is a good match up for Canada. Canada's speed might give them the advantage. The USA has proven to be more clinical in the final third. I don't know enough about Panama. I think it's going to be a good final four tournament.

[@jrcanuck1]

@alexlazandisf7276, Sorry; but I have to totally disagree with you, as the Americans have not been clinical at all in 2024 in either the offensive or offensive sides of the pitch, which is why they got bounced in the 1st round of the Copa Americas & beaten by Panama, then got totally dominated by Canada & held to 1 goal & then got beaten by Mexico 2-0 & then only beat Jamaica 1-0 in the 1st leg. The only match that the U.S. offense finally shined was versus a depleted & out of form Jamaican squad. Let's be honest, since Marsch has arrived on the scene, Canada has been the much more clinical team on both sides of the pitch.

[@alexlazaridisf.7276]

You’re right! Good points.

[@mapmakermyles]

Shaff = CDN Vardy

[@KakisKakis-tk7rv]

🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦… ¡vamos c****jo!!! 💪🏿💪🏿💪🏿

[@SandrasyArianElErizo]

Va jugar contra México 🇲🇽

[@calc1657]

Didn't Jamaica defeat Canada in last season's Nations League? These pundits are just a little full of themselves.

[@AmmarAkkad-yo6vo]

That was a different Canada team under a different coaching staff.

[@jaytse2269]

We had an interim coach who simply isn't good enough at this level and the program was in shambles at that point

[@jrcanuck1]

Calc1657, didn't Panama just defeat the U.S. a few months ago & eliminate them from the Copa Americas & yet all of the American media & podcasters & fans are so "full of themselves" talking like beating Panama is a sure thing... Canadians don't usually brag too much; but after the run this Canadian team just had, we all have every reason to be confident.

[@jeffreyallen1657]

Canada didn’t even beat a World Cup level team in their Copa run. None of those teams will make it out of CONMEBOL WCQ

[@jaytse2269]

We gave away third place to Uruguay. With that experience, if in that position again they would close the deal. Both Venezuela (who we did beat at Copa)and Uruguay drew Brazil during qualifying recently.

[@alexlazaridisf.7276]

No one is saying Canada is top of Conmebol. Just of Concacaf.

[@1313tennisman]

Lol Canada outplayed and beat Venezuela in the quarters and they could potentially qualify. They probably wont but in the expanded format its possible Canada could finish 6-8th in Conmebol

[@jaytse2269]

I think Canada could finish 4-6. Aside from Argentina and Columbia Canada would be very competitive with reamining nations

[@jeffreyallen1657]

@@jaytse2269 third place games are friendlies.