VANCOUVER – World Cup matches don’t come any bigger for Canada than its contest against Qatar on Thursday at BC Place. 

Canada opened its account with a come-from-behind 1-1 draw vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina at Toronto’s BMO Field last Friday, a historic result that allowed the team to earn its first-ever World Cup point. A day later, Qatar fought to a 1-1 draw against Switzerland in San Francisco, which means all four teams in Group B are tied with one point apiece.  

Canada is No. 30 in the current FIFA world rankings, 11 spots below Switzerland, but well ahead of Qatar (No. 49) and Bosnia and Herzegovina (No. 63). The Canadians wrap up the group stage on June 24 vs. Switzerland at BC Place.  

The top two nations from each of the 12 first-round groups advance to the knockout stage of the World Cup, as do the eight-best third teams. Canada finds itself in a strong position going into the Qatar match as a win would put it on four points and almost guarantee it a spot in the knockout stage of the tournament.  

If Canada tops Group B, its round of 32 match would be in Vancouver (and a potential round of 16 game would also be in Vancouver). If it qualifies as a second- or third-place team, it will play all of its knockout games in the United States, losing its home advantage. That’s why the game against Qatar has massive implications for the Canadians. 

"It's a home World Cup for us, but it's only a home World Cup in the knockout stages if we finish top of the group, and that's something that's not forgotten in this [team]," fullback Alistair Johnston said.  

He added: “Obviously, you want to get out of the group, but the idea of potentially having a pathway where you're staying in Vancouver as long as possible, keeping a home crowd on your side ... It's something that if we can stay in Canada as long as possible, we're gonna be pretty happy with that."  

Here are three things to look for in Thursday’s Group B encounter between Canada and Qatar at the World Cup. 

1. Will Alphonso Davies start or even play for Canada?  

The status of Canadian captain Alphonso Davies remains one of the best kept secrets........

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