World Club 2026 | Canada 6 - 0 Qatar
An emotional night for everyone associated with the Canada team
Ismael Kone's serious-looking injury left Canada manager Jesse Marsch in tears and cast a shadow over their first World Cup finals victory as they swept aside nine-man Qatar
Author | Peter Grainger
Stadium | BC Place Vancouver
With the co-hosts already 3-0 up in Vancouver and enjoying a numerical advantage, Qatar's Assim Omer Madibo and Kone challenged for the ball, leading to a lengthy stoppage and the Canadian midfielder being carried off on a stretcher.
Madibo was initially shown a yellow card, but it was upgraded to a red following a video assistant referee (VAR) review.
As Canadian supporters chanted his name, former Watford midfielder Kone was able to sit up and wave while being taken around the side of the pitch, inhaling pain relief.
Canada are now in a strong position to reach the knockout rounds, but the injury to Kone could prove a major setback to any hopes of progressing beyond the last 32.
The distressing incident overshadowed what was otherwise a landmark occasion for Canada
Cyle Larin opened the scoring with a poacher's finish in the 16th minute, claiming his second goal in as many matches, before Jonathan David struck the first of his hat-trick 13 minutes later.
Qatar then had the first of two players sent off when Homam El Amin received a red card in the 33rd minute for bringing down Tajon Buchanan as he raced through on goal.
David grabbed his second in first-half stoppage time.
Kone's injury dominated the second half. When Nathan Saliba curled in a free-kick to make it 4-0 in the 63rd minute, he held up the injured midfielder's shirt, a gesture greeted by huge cheers from the crowd.
Canada added a fifth with 15 minutes remaining when Mohammad Al Mannai turned Jacob Shaffelburg's effort into his own net.
David completed a superb hat-trick in stoppage time, latching on to Buchanan's pass before driving beyond Mahmoud Abunada.
The impact of a crazy night
The six-goal victory leaves Canada top of Group B, level on points with Switzerland but with a goal difference three better.
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