Canada’s route through the FIFA World Cup knockout rounds is beginning to take shape, with the co-host nation able to secure first place in Group B against Switzerland in Vancouver.
Canada and Switzerland enter the group finale level on four points, but Canada sits ahead on goal differential at plus-six. A win or a draw would keep Canada in the No. 1 spot and send the Canadians into a round-of-32 match in Vancouver on July 2.
First Place Would Keep Canada In Vancouver
If Canada tops Group B, it would face a third-place team from Group E, F, G, I or J. The possible opponents include Ecuador, Sweden, Belgium, Senegal or Jordan, depending on how the remaining group matches finish.
A victory in that round-of-32 game would give Canada another home match in Vancouver, this time in the round of 16 on July 7. From there, another win would send Canada to Kansas City for a July 11 quarterfinal, with a semifinal in Atlanta on July 15 available to the winner.
The FIFA World Cup final is scheduled for July 19 in East Rutherford, N.J.
A Loss Would Likely Send Canada To Los Angeles
If Switzerland beats Canada, the Canadians would likely finish second in Group B. That route would still put Canada in the round of 32, but the match would be in Los Angeles on June 28 against the second-place team from Group A.
South Korea is currently second in Group A after one loss and one draw, with a match against winless South Africa still to come. If Canada advanced from Los Angeles, it would play a round-of-16 match in Houston on July 4, with a possible quarterfinal in Boston on July 9 and a semifinal in Dallas on July 14.
Third Place Remains Possible In Group B
Canada could fall to third in Group B if Switzerland wins and the match between Qatar and Bosnia-Herzegovina finishes with a plus-seven goal differential. That would not automatically eliminate Canada in the expanded 48-team tournament, and its current goal differential would leave it with a strong chance to advance as a third-place team.
The third-place path carries more uncertainty. Canada could be sent to Boston to face Germany, the top team in Group E, on June 29, or to San Francisco to play the United States, the top team in Group D, on July 1.
A win in Boston would put Canada in Philadelphia for a round-of-16 match on July 4, while a win in San Francisco would send the team to Seattle on July 6. The Boston path would continue with a quarterfinal in Boston on July 9, and the San Francisco path would continue with a quarterfinal in Los Angeles on July 10. Either route could lead to the July 14 semifinal in Dallas.