After a qualifying campaign that felt like Canada was on top of the world, the men’s national soccer team came back down to earth hard and fast at the World Cup.
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Canada’s national men’s soccer team has lessons to learn after long-awaited return to the World Cup
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Canada’s national men’s soccer team has lessons to learn after long-awaited return to the World Cup
Both athletes and analysts agree the national team cannot – and will not – take a step back.
“There are a lot of emotions around it,” said Cavalry FC goalkeeper Marco Carducci. “I think everyone feels a bit disappointed that the team couldn’t get a result. But at the end of the day I think it’s important to remember this was not a World Cup we expected to be at.
“It’s kind of the icing on the cake that the team had such a successful qualifying campaign and ended up in Qatar.”
As Canada looks to get its first point, first win and possibly move on to the tournament’s knockout stage in 2026, Carducci has his sights set on making the national team roster.
“Watching the team at this World Cup made that goal even more apparent,” the Calgarian said. “Four years is a long time, but it’s also not, is it? I think it will catch up with us.
“Before you know it, we’ll be hosting a World Cup here, and my goal as a player and as a professional is to be there.”
The 26-year-old’s CV certainly shows he is worth watching.
The founding Cavalry FC goalkeeper won two Golden Glove awards in four Canadian Premier League campaigns.
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At the international level, Carducci has suited up for Canada at the under-23, under-20 and under-17 levels.
His impressive performance with the Cavalry in 2019 earned him a call from national men’s coach John Herdman to train with Team Canada and serve as a substitute in five international friendlies.
He trained with the currently injured Maxime Crepeau and fellow Albertans Alphonso Davies and Sam Adekugbe.
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“I learned so much just being in that environment,” Carducci recalls. “The level is so high, it was really cool to see the culture, the team spirit and everything that has been built there.
“The expectations were maybe not that we would make it to this World Cup – we weren’t that focused on that – but there was a collectivity of brotherhood that was so, so special. I think it starts from the top with John Herdman and his staff.”
Seeing former Cavalry FC teammate Joel Waterman rise through the ranks of the CPL to Qatar also adds to Carducci’s confidence.
With no set path or checklist to follow, he puts his head down and gets to work – after all, someone is always watching.
“My focus as a player will be to constantly improve and get better and perform well for your club,” Carducci said. “With the national team, they cast a wide net and they always look.
“There’s a big group of players they communicate with and keep their eyes on – that’s how I got called up in the first place.”
Canada, Mexico and the United States are jointly hosting the 2026 World Cup.
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