Canada

Canada Soccer has quietly built one of the most improved programs in the region, riding a golden generation led by Alphonso Davies and Jonathan David into consistent World Cup qualification. Long overshadowed by its CONCACAF neighbors, the team has shed its underdog reputation and now competes as a genuine continental contender. Co-hosting the 2026 World Cup on home soil marks the biggest stage the program has ever played on.

The Canadian Soccer Association was founded in 1912 and became a founding affiliate of CONCACAF in 1961. Canada's signature achievement came in 2000, when a heavy underdog squad shocked the region to win the CONCACAF Gold Cup, upsetting Mexico and Colombia along the way. After a long gap from the World Cup stage since 1986, the program's resurgence culminated in qualification for the 2022 World Cup and co-host status for 2026.