World Cup 2026: Canada overpower nine-man Qatar in dominant display
Canada delivered a commanding and relentless performance to dismantle Qatar 6-0 in their Group B match on Thursday, with the hosts taking full control after a chaotic second half in which Qatar collapsed both structurally and numerically.
Jonathan David led the way with a hat-trick, consistently punishing Qatar's defensive errors and loose marking, including a simple finish from close range after reacting quickest to a rebound for Canada's sixth. His movement and efficiency inside the box proved decisive throughout as Canada turned dominance into goals.
The turning point came after Qatar were reduced first to ten and then nine men following a straight red card and a VAR upgrade. From that moment, the match opened completely, with Jesse Marsch's side exploiting the extra space and maintaining a high tempo in attack.
Cyle Larin also got on the scoresheet, while Nathan Saliba made an immediate impact off the bench, scoring a stunning free-kick and later providing an assist, underlining Canada's depth and attacking fluidity. An own goal from Mohammad Al Mannai added to Qatar's misery in a one-sided contest that Canada controlled from start to finish.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP)