Canada has a theme B次元官网网址� and a social media hashtag, of course B次元官网网址� for Qatar: We Can.

ItB次元官网网址檚 a clever slogan for a team that is headed to its first World Cup in 36 years.

B次元官网网址淐anada is a football nation, man. We better believe it,B次元官网网址� coach John Herdman said when the team secured its berth. B次元官网网址淎nd weB次元官网网址檙e going to keep coming. WeB次元官网网址檝e only gotten started.B次元官网网址�

Canada has seen a dramatic rise on the world stage in the four years since Herdman took over. In 2021 alone, the team went from No. 72 in the world rankings to No. 40.

Canada earned its World Cup spot the hard way. Because of the squadB次元官网网址檚 low ranking, players had to get through the two early rounds of CONCACAF qualifying.

Canada has since come down from the qualifying high. The Canadians have played in four matches, winning two and losing two. The most recent game was a 2-0 loss to Uruguay in Slovakia in late September.

B次元官网网址淚 think by the time we get to the World Cup, and as I said to the players, weB次元官网网址檙e not going to get a prize for a performance award at the World Cup. You have to take your moments and we didnB次元官网网址檛,B次元官网网址� Herdman said.

Canada is led by Cyle Larin, who plays in Belgium with Club Brugge. He has scored 25 goals, including six in the final round of qualifying. Fellow forward Jonathan David, who plays for French club Lille, is close behind with 22. Bayern Munich defender Alphonso Davies has 12.

Herdman clearly understands that Canada canB次元官网网址檛 simply be satisfied with returning to the World Cup after a long drought. The team has to win.

In other words, they have to believe their own B次元官网网址淲e CanB次元官网网址� slogan.

B次元官网网址淭his is what CanadaB次元官网网址檚 got to learn, youB次元官网网址檙e not going to get a gift. YouB次元官网网址檝e got to earn it,B次元官网网址� Herdman said. B次元官网网址淎nd our whole team has to work to make sure those chances we put away.B次元官网网址�

CAPTAIN CANADA

Canada is awaiting word on the status of captain Atiba Hutchison, who missed the September friendlies with an injury.

But thereB次元官网网址檚 a good sign: Hutchinson returned to training in early October for Turkish club Besiktas.

The 39-year-old captain was 3 in 1986 when Canada last played in the World Cup. The Canadians lost to France, Hungary and the Soviet Union by a combined 5-0. HeB次元官网网址檚 the only player on the squad that was born before the last appearance.

Hutchinson has 97 appearances with the national team.

Canada was also without Johnathan Osorio, who plays for Toronto FC, for the two most recent friendlies because of a concussion.

TURBULENCE

While Canada prepares for its World Cup, the national team is still in talks with the federation about compensation.

One of the sticking points was the $10 million in FIFA bonus money the menB次元官网网址檚 team earned by qualifying for the World Cup for the first time since 1986. CanadaB次元官网网址檚 national teams B次元官网网址� both the men and the women B次元官网网址� believe they are entitled to a share of the bonus.

Their struggle over prize money comes after U.S. Soccer struck a deal to split prize finds equally between the men and the women.

CROSSOVER HIT

Herdman became the first coach ever to lead both a menB次元官网网址檚 and womenB次元官网网址檚 team to a World Cup berth. He coached the Canadian womenB次元官网网址檚 national team from 2011-18.

MORE TESTS

Canada has a pair of matches before the World Cup. The team faces Bahrain in Manama on Nov. 11, then Japan in Dubai on Nov. 17.

B次元官网网址淚 think itB次元官网网址檚 just continue the path of controlling the games,B次元官网网址� Canada midfielder Stephen Eust谩quio said when asked about the teamB次元官网网址檚 outlook. B次元官网网址淚 think if we control the games, weB次元官网网址檙e going to be more closer to winning them. Try to finish our plays. Try to not concede a goal. I think thatB次元官网网址檚 important as well against very good teams.B次元官网网址�

The team will be challenged from the start against Belgium on Nov. 23, then Croatia on Nov. 27 and Morocco on Dec. 1.

B次元官网网址擜nne M. Peterson, The Associated Press