DOHA, Qatar—Many Canadian soccer fans have been waiting for this moment their entire lives.
Long an afterthought behind hockey in their home country, Canada’s soccer team is back in the World Cup for the first time since 1986 and it opens Wednesday against a daunting opponent: Belgium, a 2018 semifinalist and second in the FIFA rankings.
“We don’t hope no more, we believe,” Canada midfielder Jonathan Osorio said. “And we’re very confident in ourselves.”
Canada’s only prior trip to soccer’s showcase was a scoreless, three-loss performance 36 years ago against France, Hungary, and the Soviet Union, with a squad that included Bob Lenarduzzi, Tino Lettieri, and Branko Segota….