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Jesse Marsch couldn't tear himself away from the television at his home just outside Pisa, Italy, last fall. Like countless Canadians, he was riveted to the Toronto Blue Jays' remarkable run to the 2025 World Series.
Watching those games in the dead of night, and witnessing the scenes unfolding in Toronto and across the country, he couldn't help but envision something greater. That run, as captivating as it was for the nation, paled in comparison to what a World Cup could deliver.
"I was a Jays fan, maybe not as much as the rest of Toronto, the rest of Canada, but this was the first time, for another sport, that I was getting up in the middle of the night because I had the fever as well," Marsch said last fall. "And I believe that we will be even bigger... I can tell you right now, that is exactly what this national team will be about, and it will electrify this country."
Many doubted him. Fast forward to Sunday's scenes and the events of the past month — Marsch was proven right.
On Sunday, as Stephen Eustàquio rifled a half-volley past South Africa's Ronwen Williams and sent Canada into the round of 16 at the World Cup, celebrations erupted at watch parties spanning all three coasts.
Prime Minister Mark Carney, who attended both matches in Vancouver and addressed the squad, even dropped to his knees on the Ottawa airport tarmac in jubilation. His plane touched down in the 85th minute, and he stepped off just moments before the decisive goal, watching the action unfold on his phone.
"This national team has come a very long way from when I started, even before that, it was in a place where guys were coming in and trying to fight to get respect from other nations," Richie Laryea said after the match, having made his international debut in 2019. "To see where we're at now, and to win a game like this in a World Cup, and to be moving on, it's special... It's a moment I don't think Canadians will ever forget."
True Canadian heroes.
What a game. What a team. What a country. @CANMNT_Official pic.twitter.com/ypfbyQ1aXV
The World Cup co-host entered the tournament having never claimed a point on soccer's grandest stage, falling in all six matches across their previous appearances in 1986 and 2022. Now, they've secured two victories, netted nine goals, and triumphed in a knockout fixture.
For Marsch, the Wisconsin-born head coach, who kissed the Canada crest and danced alongside his players following the victory, thoughts turned straight back to baseball. Canada is set to face a global powerhouse in either the Netherlands or Morocco in the round of 16 — and Marsch described it as a "free hit."
"My goal in this tournament, apart from inspiring our nation, was to make a run so that we could get to see one of the giants of the world," he said after the match. "We're at that phase of the tournament, and I feel like it's a free hit, so we're going to go after it and do everything we can to see if we can find a way to get a win."
The Global Eyes
Due to an unusual scheduling circumstance, far more viewers than a typical Canada match would attract got to witness the historic display. With no other World Cup fixtures on Sunday, a soccer-hungry global audience had just one game to watch.
It wasn't a polished performance. Neither side played at their best, and even Alphonso Davies, making his first Canada appearance since March 2025, operated below his usual standard as he continues working his way back from a hamstring injury.
Yet, it introduced the world to Canada's story.
"We have a special group. We feel like we are brothers, and at the same time, when we fight for each other, when we play for each other, special things like this can happen," explained Eustáquio. "I don't want to say that the job's finished... We know we're going to get Morocco or the Netherlands, which will be a very hard game. We hope that when they saw the game back home, they felt that next week the game is going to be very tough for them."
You showed up, Canada! It made all the difference.
See you again in Houston 🇨🇦#CANMNT #OurGameNow pic.twitter.com/eKmshxXfoG
For Alistair Johnston, who turned a standout showing at the last World Cup into a transfer to Celtic on the strength of his British citizenship, this represented a monumental stride toward Canadian credibility on the world football stage.
As Johnston and generations of Canadian players have experienced, there's a stigma attached to being Canadian. A recurring theme from those playing abroad is how difficult it can be to compete with a Brazilian, Spaniard, or Englishman for a roster spot, even when offering comparable quality. There's simply an added burden that comes with hailing from a nation without deep soccer roots.
A round of 16 berth at the World Cup — and potentially beyond — has the power to change that.
"The biggest thing for me is that in 20 years, you're going to look back and you're not going to remember how each individual played, all you're going to care about is that you advanced, and that was all about today," Johnston said after the match. "It's survival in advance, it's 90 minutes of whatever you got, and we're going to get a chance now next weekend."
Canadian Heroes Out of This World
As much as Canada stands as a global economic force and a G7 member, there remains a certain youthful quality to the Canadian identity. Marsch, the outspoken American, has noted that the team can be "too nice" and "too Canadian," while also expressing deep admiration for the country's values. On Sunday, following the final whistle, he was emphatic that this squad represents the newest generation of Canadian heroes.
"You guys are Canadian heroes for the future children of this country, who play this sport," he said. "This sport has a big future because of you guys. You should be so proud of who you are. You should be so proud of this game."
Sunday, as monumental as it was, is merely the opening chapter. Canada faces a formidable challenge — one that may require an almost otherworldly effort to overcome — in the round of 16. Fortunately, Artemis II astronaut Jeremy Hansen, who recently orbited the moon, is firmly in their corner.
"Aspire. We should absolutely dare to dream big."
Canadian Space Agency Astronaut Jeremy Hansen has a message for Canadians ahead of our first #FIFAWorldCup knockout stage match. pic.twitter.com/MgrZZWSBw0
"While it is very Canadian to be humble, and it's a great human character trait, sometimes we can keep ourselves small. Being humble should not stop us from setting big goals and chasing big dreams," Hansen said on TSN.
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"The World Cup is another opportunity for us to strive for greatness, to rally around a team who is willing to leave it all on the pitch. ... We should set big goals, we should expect challenges, we should allow for failures and adaptation, we should continue to persevere until we ultimately succeed, and it makes me proud as a Canadian, because I know that is in the root of how we show up on the global stage."
While a victory against the Netherlands or Morocco may seem like a moonshot, there's little reason to dispute Marsch's assertion that the 26 men wearing the red, white, and black are Canadian heroes. Before next Sunday, they will celebrate Canada's 159th birthday — and after that, step up to the plate to take their free hit, aiming to deliver a performance that is truly out of this world.