It’s been just a shade over two years since the U.S. men’s national team last visited Canada, but it feels like there’s been a change of eras in the interim.
After decades in the international wilderness, Canada suddenly is a force to be reckoned with. Since their emphatic 2–0 defeat of the U.S. in Toronto in October 2019, the Canadians have risen an incredible 35 spots in the FIFA ranking (to 40th). And after failing to reach the final round of Concacaf’s World Cup qualifying competition for 24 years, they now lead the race for the region’s three guaranteed 2022 World Cup berths as the only undefeated side (5-0-4) in the Octagonal.
“They’ve certainly improved a lot over the past couple of years,” U.S. defender Walker Zimmerman said Saturday. “There’s been a shift in their mentality and they play with a chip on their shoulder. They play with something to prove, and they play with an intensity that is very high.”
