At BC Place in Vancouver, Canada opened the scoring in the 16th minute. From a cross from the right wing by Alistair Johnston, David's powerful shot was too much for Abunada to hold. Cyle Larin was in the right place to tap in the rebound from close range. This was Larin's second goal at the World Cup 2026, following his opener against Bosnia & Herzegovina in their first match.

Jonathan David (number 10) celebrates with Cyle Larin (top) and Tajon Buchanan after Canada's 2-0 goal against Qatar in a Group B World Cup 2026 match in Vancouver, British Columbia, 18/6. *Photo: AP*

Canada continued their dominance, doubling their lead in the 29th minute. Tajon Buchanan dribbled and shot, the ball deflected to David inside the box. The Lille striker unleashed a dangerous right-footed volley into the bottom corner, leaving Abunada with no chance to save.

The next turning point came in the 33rd minute. Initially, Qatar defender Homam Elamin received a yellow card, and Canada was awarded a penalty after a foul on Buchanan. However, after a video assistant referee (VAR) review, referee Cristian Garay determined the foul occurred outside the penalty area. The penalty was overturned, but Elamin received a direct red card for denying a clear goal-scoring opportunity. On the sidelines, coach Jesse Marsch mimicked playing a celebratory guitar.

Playing with ten men, Qatar faced increasing difficulties. In the third minute of first-half stoppage time, Johnston crossed the ball for Larin, whose header forced a save from Abunada. The rebound fell perfectly to David, and the Canadian striker easily tapped it into an empty net to complete his brace, extending the lead to 3-0.

While Elamin's red card reduced Qatar's numbers, the incident in the 51st minute had even more severe consequences. Midfielder Assim Madibo stepped on Ismael Kone's shin, sending the Canadian player to the ground. Seeing signs of a potential fracture, Kone appeared shocked. Several other players, including Madibo, held their heads in distress at the sight of his severe injury.

Mohamed Al Manai reacts after midfielder Ismael Kone (number 8) sustained an injury during a dangerous tackle. *Photo: AP*

Initially, Madibo received a yellow card, but after a VAR review, the referee upgraded it to a direct red card for dangerous play. Subsequently, Qatar was left with only nine players on the field.

Kone was stretchered off, receiving oxygen. The image of the Canadian midfielder on the stretcher, waving to the crowd as he was carried off, drew loud applause from fans in the stadium. Many spectators chanted his name in encouragement. On online forums, many expressed hopes for Kone's swift recovery, following what was considered a successful season with Sassuolo.

Just minutes after replacing Kone, Nathan Saliba made a significant impact. In the 64th minute, the 21-year-old midfielder struck a free-kick from about 20 m, curling the ball over the wall and off the post into the net, making it 4-0 for Canada. After scoring, Saliba held up a jersey with Kone's name on it to send encouragement to his injured teammate. In the remaining minutes, the co-hosts scored two more goals.

The dominant victory reflected Canada's superiority. Journalist Ben Steiner noted that Jesse Marsch's squad displayed the expected confidence and prowess. Key striker Jonathan David performed at a high level with a hat-trick and contributed to Larin's opening goal.

Ismael Kone waves to the crowd as he is stretchered off the field after his injury. *Photo: AP*

Canadian football expert Alexandre Gangue-Ruiz even called this the team's best performance under Marsch. Canada pressed aggressively, won duels, and capitalized on opportunities effectively, responding to the pressure to win.

Meanwhile, journalist Ricardo Lopez Si praised Canada's progress over the past 5 years, from their ball control and high-pressing ability to their tactical organization and player development.

Jonathan David (second from left) scores Canada's 3-0 goal despite the challenge from center-back Boualem Khoukhi. *Photo: AP*

With their first-ever World Cup victory, Canada is well-positioned to advance to the knockout stage, while Qatar faces a difficult situation after a heavy defeat and a disappointing performance. In the final matchday, the two top teams, Canada and Switzerland, will face each other, while Qatar will play Bosnia & Herzegovina.

Xuan Binh