Canada produced one of the standout performances of the FIFA World Cup so far, defeating Qatar 6-0 to register the first men’s World Cup victory in the country’s history, as Mexico booked an early place in the knockout rounds and South Africa kept their qualification hopes alive with a hard-fought draw against the Czech Republic.

The emphatic victory in Vancouver marked a historic milestone for the tournament co-hosts, who had never won a match at the men’s FIFA World Cup despite previous appearances in 1986 and 2022. Having entered the competition with high expectations on home soil, Canada delivered a commanding display that underlined their growing stature in international football.

However, what should have been an evening of celebration was overshadowed by a serious injury to midfielder Ismaël Koné. The Canadian international suffered a broken leg following a heavy challenge by Qatar’s Assim Madibo midway through the second half. After initially issuing a yellow card, the referee upgraded the decision to a red following a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) review.

Koné received lengthy medical treatment on the pitch before being stretchered off and taken to hospital, where he was scheduled to undergo surgery. His injury cast a sombre mood over Canada’s biggest World Cup triumph, with teammates, coaching staff and supporters expressing concern for one of the squad’s key midfield players.

On the field, Canada were dominant from start to finish.

Jonathan David led the attacking display with a clinical hat-trick, while Cyle Larin and Nathan Saliba also found the back of the net. Qatar’s misery was compounded by an own goal as the defending Asian champions struggled to contain Canada’s relentless pressure throughout the contest.

The convincing result moved Canada to the top of Group B and significantly strengthened their prospects of reaching the knockout stage. It also represented another landmark moment in the country’s football development ahead of hosting the expanded 48-team tournament alongside the United States and Mexico.

Mexico become first team through

Elsewhere, Mexico became the first nation to secure qualification for the knockout rounds after defeating South Korea 1-0 in Guadalajara.

Luis Romo’s second-half strike proved decisive in a closely contested encounter, giving El Tri a second consecutive victory and ensuring they could no longer be caught by the teams below them in Group A.

The qualification carries added significance for Mexico, who exited at the group stage during the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, ending a run of seven successive appearances in the knockout rounds. Playing before home supporters, the three-time World Cup hosts have responded strongly, producing disciplined performances that have restored confidence in their campaign.

With qualification already secured, Mexico will now shift their focus to finishing top of the group, a position that could offer a more favourable route through the knockout stages.

South Africa remain in contention

South Africa also earned an important point after drawing with the Czech Republic in another Group A fixture. Although Bafana Bafana were unable to claim all three points, the result keeps their hopes of progressing to the knockout rounds alive heading into the final round of group matches.

The draw leaves South Africa needing a positive result in their final fixture while also depending on outcomes elsewhere in the group. Nevertheless, avoiding defeat ensured they remain firmly in contention in what has become one of the tournament’s most competitive groups.