The pressure is set to gear up a few notches at the FIFA World Cup with the first set of group-stage games now complete.
Thursday’s action features nations in Group A and Group B – including Canada – playing the second of three group-stage games, which will go a long way in determining their chances of advancing to the knockout stage.
The top two teams in each of the 12 groups will earn automatic entries into the Round of 32 with the top eight third-place teams receiving the last spots.
Let’s take a closer look at the standings and Thursday’s matchups.
Anyone’s game in Group B
Canada vs. Qatar – 6pm ET/3pm PT across the TSN Network, TSN.ca, TSN App and Crave
The first round of games in Group B was a wash.
In the first men’s World Cup game on Canadian soil at Toronto Stadium, the Canadian men’s national team settled first-half jitters to draw Bosnia and Herzegovina 1-1 thanks to a late goal from veteran Cyle Larin.
A day later in San Francisco, Qatar, ranked 49th in the world, stunned No. 19 Switzerland with an equalizer in the 94th minute, also resulting in a 1-1 tie.
As a result, all four teams enter Thursday’s action with a single point and the same goal differential.
Canada will be the favourites when they take on Qatar at Vancouver’s BC Place, desperately needing a win to strengthen their chances of advancing to the knockout stage for the first time in the program’s history.
When the World Cup draw was announced in early December, Qatar was circled as the game Canada could find success in. Another draw – or a disastrous loss - likely means the Canadians would need a win in their group stage finale against the Swiss, a desperate team that could also be fighting for their World Cup lives.
Acting as heavy favourites is an unfamiliar position for Canada, who have never won a game at the men’s World Cup.
The vast majority of BC Place’s seating capacity will be wearing Canada red with millions more from coast and coast watching on television expecting three points from the home side.
On Thursday, head coach Jesse Marsch said that Canadian defenders Alphonso Davies (hamstring) and Moïse Bombito (leg) would both be available to be selected against Qatar.
Davies hasn’t appeared in game since May 6 when he suffered his injury during the Champions League semi-final for Bayern Munich.
Bombito was kept on the World Cup squad despite gingerly leaving a friendly against Uzbekistan on June 1.
Regardless of whether Davies or Bombito play, Jesse Marsch and the rest of Canada will expect more from Juventus forward Jonathan David.
The 26-year-old has only scored two goals in his last 10 appearances for Canada and was subbed off for Larin, the eventual hero, in the opening draw against Bosnia.
Qatar should be coming into this game full of confidence. They were hardly given a puncher’s chance entering this year’s World Cup and suddenly have a chance to advance after drawing the top-ranked team in Group B.
They should be highly motivated as well after scoring just one goal and losing all three games at their home World Cup in 2022.
Switzerland vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina – 3pm ET/12pm PT on TSN1/3/4, TSN.ca and TSN App
Switzerland was the superior team against Qatar, controlling 70 per cent of the possession, but a late equalizer has left a bitter taste in their mouths as enter their match against Bosnia and Herzegovina in Los Angeles.
Bosnia is one of the lowest-ranked teams at this year’s FIFA World Cup at No. 63 and were probably happy to leave Toronto with a point.
Switzerland has reached the knockout stage at the previous three World Cup and will be expected to do the same this year.
Rennes forward Breel Embolo, 29, is the main goalscorer for Switzerland and now has 25 goals over 87 appearances for the national team after scoring against Qatar.
Bosnia and Herzegovina has only been to one previous World Cup in 2014 when they were unable to get out of the group stage.
Captain Edin Džeko missed the game against Canada due to an undisclosed injury, but has been a full participant leading up to their game against Switzerland, indicating he’ll be ready to play.
Top spot in Group A on the line
Mexico vs. South Korea – 9pm ET/6pm PT across the TSN Network, TSN.ca and TSN App
Mexico will have their country’s dedicated fans behind them when they take on South Korea in Thursday’s night cap at Guadalajara Stadium.
Both teams looked strong in their opening matches and sit tied atop the Group A standings with three points.
Mexico has the slight edge entering the contest with a superior goal differential.
If either side picks up another win here, it will surely secure a spot in the Round of 32 while also giving them a significant leg up as the Group A winners.
No. 13 Mexico is one of the elite soccer nations that has never won the FIFA World Cup, getting as far as the quarter-final round in 1970 and 1986. They missed the knockout stage in Qatar, the first time in the previous seven World Cups they were unable to get out of their group.
No. 22 South Korea has been to 11 straight World Cups, reaching the Round of 16 in 2022.
Czechia vs. South Africa - 12pm ET/9am PT across the TSN Network, TSN.ca and TSN App
Czechia and South Africa will both be desperate for three points when they go head-to-head at Atlanta Stadium in the first game of Thursday’s action at the FIFA World Cup.
South Africa dropped a 2-0 contest to co-host Mexico in the tournament’s opening game on June 11 while Czechia were outplayed 2-1 by South Korea in their first game, putting them in the bottom of Group A with a negative goal differential.
South Africa, ranked 61st in the word, last played in a World Cup in 2010 when they hosted the tournament and have never advanced past the group stage.
Czechia, raked 44th, will be the favourites, as they compete in their first World Cup since 2006 when they were eliminated in the group stage.
