Canadian men’s soccer team takes another step toward 2018 World Cup

Defender Adam Straith of Victoria warned beforehand: “There are no easy games in CONCACAF, especially on the road.” He was right. Host Belize, with a population the same as Greater Victoria, tied Canada 1-1 in a third-round CONCACAF World Cup qualifying game played Tuesday night in the capital Belmopan before a capacity crowd of 2,000.

The draw, however, was good enough for Canada, with Bays United product Straith again playing the full 90 minutes, to advance to the fourth round of CONCACAF qualifying for Russia 2018 on the basis of its 3-0 victory last week in the friendlier confines of BMO Field in Toronto.

In that first game, Straith anchored the Canadian defence as centre back, and Belize did not get a shot on net. Things were differed in the return leg as Belize, ranked No. 128 in the world, shocked Canada by opening scoring at 20 minutes through Deon McCauley. It took veteran Will Johnson’s goal late in the first half for Canada to gain the draw.

“It asn’t the best performance by any means,” said Straith.

“But these are never easy games down here. The most important thing is that we got through to the next round.”

Only 12 of the 35 CONCACAF nations remain alive for Russia World Cup 2018 and are separated into three groups of four. Canada will now play in a fourth-round CONCACAF group that includes traditional regional power Mexico, No. 81 Honduras and No. 107 El Salvador. Canada likely must target wins over Honduras and El Salvador as only the top-two out of the pool advance to the six-team CONCACAF final round, which in soccer is referred to as the hexagonal.

Three teams will advance from the CONCACAF hexagonal to the 2018 World Cup with the fourthplace finisher advancing to an at-large play-in round.