Canada’s fragile – Canada goes into the World Cup on a strong unbeaten run, but two matches in the June window—especially the 1-1 draw with the Republic of Ireland in Montreal—show serious gaps up front as Jonathan David and Cyle Larin keep struggling to find form.
MONTREAL — Canada arrived at its final World Cup tune-up with a number that sounded reassuring: a seven-game unbeaten run and just one regulation-time loss in its previous 17 outings.
The problem was that nothing about this week felt comfortably settled. In Edmonton, Canada couldn’t string together a full 90 minutes in a 2-0 win over Uzbekistan. Then, on Friday in Montreal, it had to settle for a 1-1 draw against the Republic of Ireland.
The stakes are obvious. Canada’s opening World Cup match is just one week away, against Bosnia and Herzegovina on June 12 in Toronto. And for a team trying to build momentum. that’s where the disappointment sharpened: Ireland didn’t qualify for the World Cup. and manager Heimir Hallgrímsson didn’t bring his strongest side to Quebec. with no less than 17 players on his 24-man squad having five games or less of international experience.
Jesse Marsch, speaking to reporters after the draw in Montreal, moved quickly to control the conversation.
“I’m sure we’re going to get a million questions, but I’m going to be positive, guys. I’m not here to take a bunch of negative questions, and if you ask me negative questions, I’ll just move on to the next one,” Marsch said.
Midfielder Ismaël Koné tried to offer a clearer emotional frame around the result.
“If you look at the result, some people might be disappointed. But in general, as a team and what we wanted to accomplish tonight in front of our home crowd, for me the objective was completed,” Koné said.
But when the conversation turns from attitude to production, the numbers start to talk louder than the slogans.
David and Larin can’t afford another slow start
Jonathan David and Cyle Larin are the two biggest names in Canada’s attacking history—David with 39 goals, Larin with 30. Yet the forward line that carries so much weight is mired in slumps that can’t be brushed off anymore.
Larin has now gone 14 consecutive games for Canada without scoring, with his last goal coming in 2024. David’s situation isn’t much better: he scored a pair of penalty goals against Iceland in March, but aside from that he hasn’t found the net in eight appearances for his country.
Against Uzbekistan in Edmonton, neither of them managed to stamp themselves on the game. Neither had a single shot on target, and neither created enough danger to force a real change in the match. The same story followed against Ireland. In Montreal, David again didn’t register a shot on target in 90 minutes.
Larin did have one dangerous attempt saved by Ireland’s goalkeeper, but his overall impact was limited. He also committed the foul that led to Ireland being awarded a penalty, from which the visitors scored the equalizer in the second half.
The warning signs stretch back further than this week. Before Canada’s win over Uzbekistan, it hadn’t scored from open play since last November, when Koné’s first-half strike over Venezuela ended the team’s previous goal drought at 342 consecutive minutes.
The wider roster picture doesn’t rescue the concern. Tani Oluwaseyi and Promise David—the other two forwards on Marsch’s World Cup roster—have five goals between them in 34 combined appearances for Canada.
If Canada wants to have a real chance of getting out of the group stage, the form of its top two scorers can’t remain stuck in neutral. The tournament starts in days, not weeks.
The back line may stay steady, but the attack is the risk
There’s a different kind of tension in defence—one Canada can’t ignore either, even if the performances offered some comfort.
Moïse Bombito and Derek Cornelius have been Canada’s central defensive anchors for much of Marsch’s tenure. But Bombito is still working his way back to full fitness after suffering a left tibia fracture last October while playing for his pro club OGC Nice.
Against Uzbekistan, Bombito was on restrictive duty due to his injury layoff and was subbed out in the 32nd minute. He was also playing his first game for his country since March 23, 2025. He looked short of his best and failed to make a play on a dangerous scoring chance that nearly opened the match for the visitors.
In Edmonton. Luc de Fougerolles stepped in for Bombito. and he didn’t just fill a space—he made himself a factor. He replaced Bombito and then started in Montreal. distinguishing himself with sound defensive positioning. his ability to snuff out danger before it developed. and his comfort level playing the ball out from the back.
De Fougerolles, still only 20 years old, was also the team’s best centre back in both Edmonton and Montreal. With Bombito’s status still a concern, Marsch is likely to rely on de Fougerolles again if Bombito isn’t fit for Canada’s opening match.
After the Ireland game, Marsch praised the 20-year-old’s contribution.
“I thought Luc with the ball was outstanding and (he) helped set up a lot of our initial movements to get us into the attack. I thought he was really good on what we call ‘rest defence’. and defending some difficult moments. standing players up. not giving away fouls. I thought overall was a really strong performance from Luc,” Marsch said.
For Canada, that’s the kind of insurance that can stabilize a tournament. But none of it solves the bigger question on the other end of the pitch.
Koné is building a case as the midfield spark Canada needs
For all the frustration up front, Ismaël Koné has been moving in the opposite direction—toward impact.
His standing has grown after a successful debut season in Italy’s Serie A with Sassuolo. He finished the campaign with six goals in 36 matches across all competitions.
Koné runs a physically demanding two-way midfield role. In Canada’s central duo with Stephen Eustáquio, he operates as both enforcer and distributor: covering ground while also pushing the attack forward with immaculate touch and sublime passing.
Against Ireland, Koné was Canada’s top passer with a 92 per cent success rate. He played a key role in helping Canada pin Ireland back deep inside its half for long stretches.
When the match turned defensive, he was just as present. The Montreal native recorded three tackles, one block and seven recoveries.
Games at the World Cup will come quickly, and Canada will face a range of opponents with different playing styles. Koné, at least, has shown he can change the feel of those games.
Marsch pointed to the difference between matches, too—especially after Uzbekistan.
“I got after him after Uzbekistan. because I felt like he was just floating around the pitch way too slow and not intensive enough. And today he picked it all up and put together a complete performance. where against the ball he was winning duels. he’s winning head balls. he’s picking up loose balls. with the ball he’s driving. he’s finding actions. ” Marsch said.
He added: “This is what my vision from the beginning (has been) of Ismail: an intensive player that also has a gift of just moving around with the ball that teams can’t really match plan for, right? He’s an X-factor for us.”
It’s the clearest reminder from this week that Canada can still find ways to hurt teams—even when the striker tandem isn’t clicking.
But when the World Cup opener arrives on June 12 in Toronto against Bosnia and Herzegovina. Canada won’t get many chances to work through slumps in front of goal. The unbeaten run may keep the confidence alive. The two draws and the missing shots on target make sure everyone knows exactly what needs to change first.
MISRYOUM Sports News Canada men's national team World Cup 2026 qualifiers Jesse Marsch Ismaël Koné Jonathan David Cyle Larin Luc de Fougerolles Moïse Bombito Derek Cornelius Uzbekistan Republic of Ireland Bosnia and Herzegovina