Remembering the top 5 moments from the CanMNT's last home undefeated run ahead of return to BMO Field
After almost 11 months away, the CanMNT are finally back home, as they get set to host Panama in a friendly at BMO Field on October 15th.
Their first home game under head coach Jesse Marsch, they’ll hope to mark it with a win, continuing their dominance on home soil.
Unfortunately, they saw an important streak end the last time they played in Canada, as they had a 14-game undefeated home run snap in a 3-2 loss to Jamaica in the Concacaf Nations League quarter-finals.
Now, however, in Marsch’s home debut, they’ll hope to begin a new streak, helping continue that dominance north of the border.
Ahead of the 2026 World Cup, they’d love nothing more than for that dominance to manifest itself in that competition, but they’ll look to start laying the groundwork for that, starting this month.
With that in mind, here are the top five moments from that 14-game run.
5. Davies marks Vancouver return in style
After his departure from the Vancouver Whitecaps in 2018, no one knew when they might see Alphonso Davies back in Vancouver for a game.
It came close to happening just months after his departure - Canada played a Nations League qualifier against French Guiana at BC Place in March of 2019, but Davies had to watch from the sideline after sustaining an injury while celebrating his first-ever Bayern goal (yup, believe it or not).
As a result, he didn’t get a chance to make that return until June of 2022, when Canada were scheduled to play a friendly and then a Nations League match at the stadium. Unfortunately for him, the friendly got cancelled, and then so did the rescheduled match, meaning Davies didn’t see the pitch at BC Place until the Nations League match, a group-stage clash against Curaçao.
In that game, however, he quickly made the most of his return back to Vancouver - he stepped up to take a penalty he won in the 27th minute and then made it a brace in the 72nd minute on a nice 1-2 with Richie Laryea. His first game back with the CanMNT since missing six World Cup qualifiers earlier in the year with myocarditis, it was a big day all around for Davies, and he found a way to deliver.
GOAL 🍁
— OneSoccer (@onesoccer) June 10, 2022
WELCOME BACK, @AlphonsoDavies! 🗻
The former #VWFC star opens the scoring vs. Curacao in this #CNL match-up from the penalty spot 🎯
🔴 https://t.co/7JFAUhgjL6 pic.twitter.com/iTfh1qSnWd
Along with goals from Steven Vitória and Lucas Cavallini, it made for a memorable night in a 4-0 win, their first in a Nations League campaign where they reached the final, the lone time they’ve made the final four of the Nations League in three attempts.
After a chaotic week, it was a nice moment for Davies and his teammates, as they looked to build toward the 2022 World Cup with a key win.
4. Hutchinson leads the way as Canada gets first win of ‘Octo’
Making their return to the final round of World Cup qualifying for the first time since the 1998 World Cup cycle, doing so after winning six games by a combined score of 31-1 across the first two rounds, Canada was looking to keep the good times rolling as they looked to reach their first World Cup since 1986.
Unfortunately for them, however, their first two games of the final round didn’t go to plan for them. First, they struggled in a 1-1 home draw against Honduras and then had to settle for a 1-1 draw on the road to the US in a game they looked likely to win late.
Overall, two points from their first two games weren’t bad, but they knew they needed to finish the window off with a win, especially given that a home date with El Salvador awaited them at BMO Field.
But with Alphonso Davies out injured, that was going to be a tough test, so it was going to be interesting to see how Canada would respond.
To their credit, it turned out pretty well, as they opened the scoring after just six minutes, with Richie Laryea doing well to find captain Atiba Hutchinson for a huge goal, one that settled any nerves.
GOAL 🇨🇦
— OneSoccer (@onesoccer) September 8, 2021
Atiba Hutchinson opens the scoring for Canada vs. El Salvador after some nifty inter-play up top ❤️#CanMNT | 🔴 https://t.co/hishXepRT3 pic.twitter.com/npJ0N6ZKIC
From there, Canada added a second through Jonathan David not long after and then made it 3-0 early in the second half, as they picked up a comfortable 3-0 win for their first victory of the final round.
Had they lost this game, they wouldn’t have been in the worst position in the world, but with road games against Mexico and Jamaica awaiting them in the next round, this win proved to be massive for them, especially after they went out and picked up road draws in those two road games.
3. David and Larin shine at the Iced Capp
Naturally, a lot of the CanMNT’s best memories at home in recent years came during that special World Cup qualifying run, and when looking back at those matches, it’s more than understandable why that is the case.
One of those days came in January of 2022 in Hamilton, where Canada welcomed the US to Tim Hortons Field.
A massive game at the top of the table, Canada was coming off a key road win over Honduras, their first win there in decades, and were looking to ride that wave of confidence against the Americans.
It wasn’t going to be easy, however, as they were missing Davies as he dealt with Myocarditis, Stephen Eustáquio due to COVID, and were without Atiba Hutchinson due to a suspension.
Despite that, they got on the board early, as Jonathan David and Cyle Larin, two key heroes of Canada’s World Cup qualifying run, linked up for a Larin goal in the 7th minute, which allowed Canada to play more defensively.
GOAL 🍁
— OneSoccer (@onesoccer) January 30, 2022
CYLE LARIN. GOAL NUMBER 23. #CANMNT UP 1-0 OVER THE #USMNT at the 7-minute mark
🔴 https://t.co/7JFAUhgjL6 pic.twitter.com/gDkF8XJfMO
From there they sat back and got to work, and battled hard at the back, doing well to bend but not break in the face of US pressure.
Eventually, they then confirmed their victory in the 95th minute, as after a clearance from Kamal Miller, Sam Adekugbe took the ball in stride, cut inside and slammed home his first-ever Canadian goal, sending the fans in Hamilton into a rapture of joy as he slid into a now-famed meditation celebration.
DOS A CERO, EH?🍁#CANMNT WINS 🎉
— OneSoccer (@onesoccer) January 30, 2022
Sam Adekugbe makes it 2-0 and CANADA. WINS. 🍾
Canada vs. #USMNT post-game, now LIVE 🔴 https://t.co/KatT66raAo pic.twitter.com/xrv2ZvMeL6
This might not have been the day that Canada booked their spot at the World Cup, as they still needed to get two more wins before they eventually clinched their place, but this felt like the day when they realized they were going to make it, as they found a way to beat a tough team without three key regulars.
2. Canada shocks Concacaf in Iceteca win
It feels like *the* moment of Canada’s World Cup qualification.
On a frigid November evening in Edmonton, Canada took on Mexico in a massive game, as they looked to make it three straight wins after victories over Panama and Costa Rica.
In front of a crowd of over 44,000 people, with temperatures well below freezing, Canada looked to use their home-field advantage in their favour as they looked to beat an opponent they hadn’t beaten in a long time.
Certainly, given that heavy snow had hit Edmonton that week, it was hard to think of any more Canadian conditions for them to do this in, and they quickly showed they weren’t there to mess around in the game, as Doneil Henry caught Hirving Lozano with a heavy tackle early on that served as a reminder of how much this game meant to this Canadian side.
To their credit, they weren’t just there to play physically, though, as they also looked to find some goals and secure the win.
And there is where Cyle Larin stepped up with his biggest moment of World Cup qualifiers, as he scored on a rebound in stoppage time of the first half before completing his brace early into the second half to give Canada a 2-0 lead.
From there, it was all about survival, as Mexico scored in the 90th minute through Hector Herrera to make things interesting, and they nearly scored an equalizer if not for a spectacular save from Milan Borjan, but in the end, Canada survived to pick up the win.
But while most will look at those moments as the key to Canada’s victory, it’s worth noting that the famed moment of that night didn’t happen on the field - it came after Canada’s second goal, when Sam Adekugbe jumped into a snowbank, a move caught by the camera.
A year ago today… Sam Adekugbe jumped into a snowbank 🥶
— Alexandre Gangué-Ruzic (@AlexGangueRuzic) November 16, 2022
Oh yeah, and the #CanMNT also beat Mexico 2-1 on a freezing Edmonton night for their 1st win over El Tri since 2000
Long live the ‘Iceteca’ 🫡🍁pic.twitter.com/Kad0uHNAjA
A clip that went viral, it summed up how the night went for Canada - they were enjoying every moment of playing at the “Iceteca”, and that allowed them to deliver one of the biggest victories of their World Cup qualification campaign.
Honourable mention: Davies scores *that* goal vs. Panama
While Canada's 4-1 victory over Panama in October of 2021 was a big one, more specifically, it's important to remember one key moment from that match - Alphonso Davies's incredible solo run that ended up standing as the winner in a massive 4-1 win.
1 year ago today, Alphonso Davies scored *that* goal for the #CanMNT vs Panama at BMO Field
— Alexandre Gangué-Ruzic (@AlexGangueRuzic) October 13, 2022
With just 1W and 4D in their first 5 games of the Octo, and down 1-0 to 🇵🇦, this was the winner in the first game of a 6-game winning streak that sent 🇨🇦 to the WChttps://t.co/6vsroxwevc
In terms of matches from the streak, this win might not have meant as much as the others in the grand scheme of things, but that moment where Davies scored might've been one of the best from the run, so it's important to remember it when making this list.
1. Canada secures 2022 World Cup qualification
Of course, for all of the big moments Canada had during World Cup qualifiers, the most important moment came at the end of it, when they cemented their spot in the final tournament.
Fortunately for them, they were able to do that at home, too, as they took on Jamaica in their second-last match at BMO Field.
After missing out on a chance to qualify on the road against Costa Rica, falling 1-0 there, they were eager to get the job done at home, where they needed a win to cement that spot.
To their credit, they pulled it off, and did so in style - Cyle Larin found the net after 13 minutes, Tajon Buchanan made it 2-0 in the 44th minute before Junior Hoilett made it 3-0 in the 82nd minute and an own goal cemented a 4-0 win in the 88th minute.
GOAL 🍁
— OneSoccer (@onesoccer) March 27, 2022
CYLE LARIN SCORES FOR CANADA! 🚨
Is this the goal that sends us to the 2022 FIFA World Cup!? 🤯#CanMNT up 1-0 over Jamaica!
WATCH 🔴 | #SeeTheeRisehttps://t.co/7JFAUhgjL6 pic.twitter.com/XbNSZOrfi2
As a result, on a freezing day at BMO Field, they ensured that a sold-out crowd would get to witness history, officially marking their return to the World Cup.
Marked with a party to remember after the game, this ended up being the perfect conclusion to a memorable journey, as they didn’t just squeak their way into the World Cup - they blew down the door and ensured they finished off their perfect qualifying campaign on a high note. 
Make sure you don’t miss the CanMNT’s return to BMO Field by purchasing tickets for their match against Panama on October 15th at https://www.ticketmaster.ca/event/1000610E801F1078
