C. Larin

Canada arrive at a home World Cup as co-hosts with the wind at their backs, and the buzz around the tournament — from the stadiums in Toronto and Vancouver to the new technology being deployed across Canada, the US and Mexico — only sharpens the spotlight on the national team. Our AI model, however, keeps expectations grounded: a 0.1% title probability, with just a 3.8% chance of reaching the semifinals and 0.8% of making the final. This is a side that can spring an upset on the big stage, but is not yet built to go the distance.

The attacking core gives Canada genuine teeth. Jonathan David has been prolific for Union Saint-Gilloise with 16 goals and four assists at a 6.99 rating, mirrored by Anton Pepple's 16 goals at Plymouth. The standout creative force is Ali Ahmed of Vancouver Whitecaps, whose 10 assists and 7.3 rating make him the team's metronome, while Jacob Russell-Rowe adds nine goals from Columbus Crew. The concern is balance: plenty of finishers, but the supply line leans heavily on Ahmed.

Drawn into Group B, Canada will fancy their chances of advancing on home soil, where crowds in Toronto and Vancouver can lift them. Beyond the group, the knockout road grows steep quickly, and the numbers suggest a likely exit in the round of 16 or quarterfinals. A realistic verdict: progress from the group is achievable, but a deep run would be a genuine overachievement.