Canada recorded the first FIFA World Cup win in their history in spectacular fashion on Thursday, dismantling a nine-man Qatar side 6-0 in a dramatic Group B encounter at BC Place in Vancouver.
A brilliant hat-trick from Jonathan David spearheaded the hosts’ commanding performance, although the evening was marked by a serious injury to midfielder Ismael Kone, two dismissals for Qatar, and a tense altercation between players after the final whistle.
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David led the scoring spree with three goals, while Cyle Larin and Nathan Saliba also found the net. Qatar’s Mohamed Manai added to his side’s misery with an own goal as Canada dominated from start to finish.
The contest took a troubling turn early in the second half when Kone sustained a severe injury following a challenge from Qatar midfielder Assim Madibo. The Canadian international was left in visible agony, prompting teammates to urgently call for medical attention.
Madibo initially escaped with a yellow card, but after a VAR review, the referee upgraded the sanction to a straight red card. Qatar were reduced to nine players after Homam Ahmed had already been sent off before the break.
Kone was eventually carried off on a stretcher while receiving oxygen treatment. He acknowledged the crowd with a wave as he left the field, an emotional scene that clearly affected his teammates.
With the extra man advantage, Canada took complete control. Saliba, who came on as Kone’s replacement, curled in an excellent free-kick in the 64th minute to extend the lead to 4-0. He dedicated the goal to Kone by lifting the midfielder’s jersey and gesturing toward his number eight shirt.
The hosts continued their relentless attack as a cross from Jacob Shaffelburg was inadvertently turned into the net by Manai. David then completed his hat-trick deep into stoppage time, putting the finishing touch on a memorable night for Canada.
The three-goal performance made David only the second player to score a hat-trick at the 2026 World Cup. He also became the first male player from the CONCACAF region to achieve the feat at the tournament since 1930 and the first Canadian man to score multiple goals in a single World Cup match.
Despite the landmark achievement, David admitted the mood in the dressing room was tempered by concern for Kone.
“It was an excellent game before the injury happened, but once he got hurt it became difficult to stay focused,” David said.
“All we wanted was for the match to end so we could be together as a team.”
Speaking about Canada’s breakthrough World Cup triumph, he added: “It’s something that will take time to fully appreciate. We know we’ve achieved something special for the country. To get our first World Cup win and do it in such convincing style is incredible.”
Emotions continued to run high after the final whistle, with players from both teams becoming involved in a heated exchange near the centre circle. Officials and coaching staff stepped in to restore order and separate the sides.
The emphatic victory places Canada in a favourable position at the top of Group B, with only a draw against Switzerland in their final group fixture needed to strengthen their chances of finishing first.
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