The 36-year wait to return to the World Cup is now over. Canada, who are now ranked 41st in the world, have been drawn into a tricky Group F alongside Belgium, Croatia and Morocco.

It’s unlikely that Canada will reach the next rounds, but the three games ahead carry a lot of weight as the soccer program continues to rebuild. This year’s World Cup is a building block ahead of hosting the 2026 tournament alongside the United States and Mexico.