Team Canada (image courtesy of Canada Soccer via Twitter)Team Canada (image courtesy of Canada Soccer via Twitter)
London

Team Canada heading to Qatar

A draw would have been good enough, but Team Canada punched their ticket for the World Cup by defeating Jamaica, 4-0.

A rowdy, enthusiastic crowd filled the stands of BMO Field despite the snow and freezing temperatures to cheer the team on for their last homestand.

Cyle Larin opened the scoring with a goal just past the 12-minute mark.

https://twitter.com/CanadaSoccerEN/status/1508177986981437445

The forward is Team Canada's top goal scorer, on the men's side, now with 24 in total.

The first half ended with a score of 2-0 for Canada after a late goal from midfielder Tajon Buchanan.

https://twitter.com/CanadaSoccerEN/status/1508189093460652043

Junior Hoilett joined in on the scoring with just about 10 minutes left in the game, ensuring the team's victory.

https://twitter.com/CanadaSoccerEN/status/1508198847176187907

As a final nail in the coffin, Jamaica's Adrian Mariappa scored an own goal to make it 4-0 for Canada.

It's been 36 years since Canada even qualified for the tournament. In fact, the team only qualified for the third and final round of World Cup qualifying for the first time since 1987.

Canada began the third and final round of the qualifiers unbeaten in its first eleven matches and until their last game against Costa Rica they'd remained that way.

The team also ended 2021 ranked 40th in the FIFA World Rankings, its highest-ever position to date, which earned Canada the honour of "Most Improved Side" after having started the year ranked 72nd.

Despite already qualifying, Canada has one last match against Panama on Wednesday, March 30.

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