Canada Crush Qatar and Mexico Seal Knockout Qualification

It was a superb night for two of the 2026 World Cup joint-hosts, as Canada got their first win of the tournament, while Mexico became the first side to qualify for the Round of 32.

The pressure was on Canada to respond, after Switzerland climbed to the top of Group B with a 3-1 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina earlier in the day.

And they did so, in truly emphatic fashion.

Cyle Larin opened the scoring after 16 minutes when he pounced on a Qatar goalkeeping error to tap home, before an excellent Jonathan David volley put Canada firmly in control on the half-hour.

The game was well and truly up for Qatar in first-half stoppage time, when Homam El Amin was sent off via VAR for bringing down Tajon Buchanan when the forward was through on goal. David scored the resulting penalty and Jesse Marsch’s men were 3-0 up at the break.

Canada continued to dominate, with Nathan Saliba curling home a free-kick, and after an own goal with 15 minutes to go, David completed his hat-trick in injury time to seal a famous Canadian win and leave Qatar languishing at the foot of the Group B table.

There was joy for Mexico, too, as they continued their 100% record - and secured qualification for the knockout stages - with a 1-0 win over South Korea in Guadalajara.

It was a match that lacked quality and both ends, so it was no surprise that the winner came from poor goalkeeping, rather than a moment of genuine class.

It came five minutes into the second half, as South Korea keeper Kim Seung-Gyu needlessly came for a high ball in the box and spilled it into the grateful path of Luis Romo, who tapped into an empty net.

That result leaves Mexico on six points and through to the knockout stages, and if they win in their Last 32 clash, a potential meeting with England awaits them at the Azetca in the Round of 16.