Canada could be a surprise in Qatar

Richard Hastings says qualifying for the World Cup is a massive achievement for Canada – but insists they won’t just be making up the numbers in Qatar.

The Inverurie Locos manager and former Inverness Caley Thistle and Ross County defender won 59 caps for the Canucks.

He is excited as Canada prepare to start their first World Cup campaign since 1986 against Belgium at 7pm tomorrow, before facing Croatia on Sunday and Morocco next Thursday.

Hastings was thrilled to see John Herdman lead Canada to the finals and reckons they could be a surprise package in a tricky Group F.

He said: “It’s quite surreal really, having been through the qualifying campaigns myself I know how difficult it is. Some of the teams you play, the conditions you’re playing in and the hostility you face from opposition supporters can make it really difficult.

“It’s a massive achievement for the players and staff.

“We could potentially be a surprise package in the tournament. Belgium and Croatia haven’t played Canada in recent times and Canada have players in the forward areas that can score goals and players that can handle big games.

“It’s not just a bunch of Canada-based players who will be caught like rabbits in the headlights on the world stage.

“What the players did in qualifying shows there’s a team spirit and togetherness and I’m excited to watch them play.

“They’ll have to be pragmatic and stay in games, but if you’ve got players who know where the goal is that’s half the battle at the top level.”

Hastings, who played for Canada between 1998 and 2010, has experienced first-hand the difficulties of trying to qualify for a World Cup.

He added: “The dream of every player is to play in the World Cup, I was fortunate to do it at Under20 level, but it’s not the men’s World Cup.

“You want to be on the biggest stage in the world, but we were never close.

“I think it’s the longest qualification process of any region and it’s a difficult region to qualify from, all credit to the current squad.”

Canada will co-host the 2026 World Cup along with the USA and Mexico.

Hastings believes getting to Qatar can help the growth of football in the North American country.

He played in Canada’s successful Concacaf Gold Cup winning side in 2000, but admits that triumph didn’t have the desired impact when it came to developing the game.

Hastings said: “This really is a kickstart to everything to come in 2026.

“The Canadian Premier League is up and running and some of the players from the league are making it into the national squad.

“It’s good exposure for these players to potentially get moves to some of Europe’s bigger leagues, as well.

“It’s all heading in the right direction for Canada and to qualify for this World Cup is a big step forward.

“Alphonso Davies (of Bayern Munich) is a superstar who will grab the imagination and inspire children.

“In 2000 when we won the Gold Cup we hoped there would be an influx of interest but it petered out.

“However, I think this is too big and too much groundwork has been done in Canada in terms of developing the game for it peter out this time.

“I can’t see it going backwards now, which is great this is finally happening in Canada.”

THRILLED: Locos boss Richard Hastings warns against writing off his home country as makeweights in a tough group.