HOUSTON — Luc de Fougerolles needed just over an hour after Canada’s FIFA World Cup exit to turn disappointment into a target for 2030.
The 20-year-old defender was already thinking about another run after Canada was eliminated Saturday in a 3-0 loss to Morocco. “I just can’t wait for four years time,” he said. “I think as a team, we just need to be there. I just want to have another run like this and go further and do even more for the country.”
Canada exits after first knockout-round win
Canada’s tournament still marked a breakthrough for the men’s program. The Canadians earned their first point and first win at a men’s World Cup, reached the knockout round for the first time, then beat South Africa 1-0 to move into the round of 16.
The run ended against Morocco, but Stephen Eustaquio said the experience of playing on that stage, among the final 16 and against top-level opposition, should matter later. The vice-captain said Canada must use the tournament as fuel and reach a better level in future chances.
Marsch says expectations have changed for 2030
Head coach Jesse Marsch said the standard around Canada has shifted after a tournament the team entered at No. 30 in FIFA’s official rankings. “Next World Cup, everyone’s going to say that anything less than the round of 16 is a failure, right?” he said.
Marsch also pointed to Canada’s performance before Morocco broke through. Canada out-chanced the Moroccans 4-1 in the first half, and the match changed after a goal from a free kick in the 50th minute.
“Nobody’s more disappointed in the fact that we lost a game that we were very much in control of than ourselves,” Marsch said. He said Canada must absorb the loss, stay humble about the work still required and commit to improving whenever the team is together.
Young roster leaves Canada with 2030 core
Many players from this summer’s squad could still be in contention when Canada tries to qualify for the 2030 World Cup in Morocco, Portugal and Spain. The 26-man roster Marsch named at the end of May had an average age of 25.3 and included 13 players who had not previously appeared at a World Cup.
Ali Ahmed, a 25-year-old midfielder, said that first taste has made the group hungrier. He said the pain of the defeat can become part of the team’s growth because of the mental demands of the tournament.
Alistair Johnston said Canada also leaves with memories that go beyond results. He said the team showed the world “what a footballing country Canada is,” with passion visible when Canada played and when other teams came through.
Johnston hopes the tournament pushes 17- and 18-year-old players in Canada to chase places in the 2030 squad. He said the program still needs to build top-end talent and depth, with important matches ahead over the next four years as Canada prepares for another World Cup cycle.