Edgar ready to go for Canada
KITCHENER — David Edgar is already crunching the numbers.
The Kitchener native will be 39 years old by the time Canada co-hosts the 2026 World Cup of Soccer.
“I was doing the math,” he said. “It might be tough, but I’m never going to rule it out. I’m going to play until my legs fall off.”
The professional defender has extra incentive to keep his career going after Canada’s three-way bid to host soccer’s biggest showcase — along with the United States and Mexico — was approved by FIFA Wednesday.
The bulk of the 80-game schedule will run in the U.S., but Canada is expected to get 10 matches spread between Toronto, Montreal and Edmonton. As hosts, the nation could receive an automatic
entry into the tournament.
Canada has only qualified for the World Cup once, back in 1986 when it went 0-3 and failed to score a goal.
“It’s massive,” said Edgar, who has played professionally across the world since starting with Newcastle United’s Academy as a teenager. “There should be kids reading this that are 14 or 15 years old and thinking to themselves that they have a chance to play in it. It’s a once in a lifetime thing.”
Playing for Canada in 2026 is a long shot and Edgar, who has 42 caps for the national squad, knows it. But he plans to do all he can to help develop the program in the lead-up to the event as a player or in any other capacity.
“I got shivers when the news came out,” he said. “Your mind starts going and racing. The first thing I thought was that I’d love to be involved in one way or another.”
Kitchener Soccer Club academy director Mario Halapir was equally excited when the news broke.
“When I moved here I never thought it was going to occur,” said the Croatian immigrant who came to Canada in 1975. “People in our community and across Canada should not only be excited but proud of the fact that we’re able to host something like this. It’s going to be incredible to have it in our own backyard.”
This year’s World Cup kicked off Thursday in Russia with 32 teams, but the format will expand to 48 countries in 2026.
Typically, host teams get a free pass into the tournament, but this is the first time three nations have co-hosted so it’s unclear, at this time, how that will affect Canada.
Regardless, just putting on games should have a positive impact on the sport in the country.
“The interest and momentum it built in the U.S. back in 1994 (when the Americans hosted) was a real huge step for them,” said Halapir. “Whether that’s going to do the same thing in our country, I think time will tell. I hope it does.”
Canada is tied with Lebanon at 79th in the FIFA men’s soccer rankings and will need to improve to be competitive in 2026.
That team could feature some local flavour in Kitchener’s Munir Saleh and brothers Harry and Ben Paton. Saleh currently plays for the University of Connecticut while the Paton siblings are overseas. Harry was affiliated with Hearts Under-20 in the Scottish Premier League this past season and Ben was in the Blackburn Rovers Academy in England.
Edgar has confidence Canada won’t be embarrassed in eight years. The national men’s side has posted winning records in qualification rounds for the past two World Cups despite falling short of making the tournament.
Competing at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar would certainly give Canada some momentum heading into 2026. Qualifications for that tournament begin next summer. And Edgar will be ready if needed.
“I haven’t ruled it out,” said the 31-yearold. “I still have plenty left in the tank.”