team that is a regional power that has won both the Gold Cup and Nations League in 2021 while beating Mexico three times.Īlso, combine this with the fact that for the January window, Canada’s MLS based players will still be offseason and that makes it harder considering the Canadian team, while boasting an strong XI, is still not as deep as the U.S. While four games are on the road, one of the home games is against a U.S. On top of the travel, the fluctuation in temperature between Canada in the winter and Central America could be eighty or ninety degrees. 1) Assemble in Canada, 2) travel to Central America and play game one 3) return all the way to Canada for game two and 4) travel back to Central America for game three. In each of the upcoming windows, the team is going to have to travel a lot. There are also a bunch of other things that should cause concern. Honduras, El Salvador, Costa Rica and Panama are tough places to play and a hiccup or two should be expected. While it has earned draws on the road against the USA, Mexico, and Jamaica (certainly very strong accomplishments), it will now have to play four of its final six games on the road in Central America. Of its eight games, five have been in Canada. A lot of the heavily lifting has been done.Ĭanada seem is riding a wave of positivity that seems destined to carry it to Qatar and then in a spot to build up its team ahead of co-hosting the tournament in 2026.Ĭanada has performed well thus far but has been doing so mostly at home. Schedule-wise, Canada is done with Mexico and doesn’t have an away trip to the United States. Running into the winter break top of the table like. Everyone is stepping up and on Tuesday it was Alistair Johnston who made a big play to create Larin’s first goal over Mexico.
Octagon windows game full#
The team is loaded with talent with Alphonso Davies perhaps the best player in all of CONCACAF, Jonathan David/Cyle Larin comprising of the best forward tandem, and Tajon Buchanan another budding player full promise. Here is a look at each team and why their fans should feel both optimistic and concerned over their current standing.Ĭanada is atop the group, is playing well, has yet to lose, and the 2-1 win over Mexico capped a six-point window and created a sense of euphoria the country has never seen about its men’s national team in well over a generation. We just don’t know their places.Īs most know by now, the top three qualify for the World Cup while the fourth-place team has to go to an intercontinental playoff – where it could likely be the underdog.īetween Canada, the USA, Mexico, and Panama you have a four-team race for three spots. It is not impossible for Costa Rica to move into the top four, but for now it seems like current top four are the most likely to finish in the top four. A five-point gap separates Panama from the bottom half where Costa Rica sits with nine points, Jamaica with seven points, El Salvador with six points, and Honduras with just three. Just two points separate leading Canada from fourth-place Panama. The top half consists of Canada, the United States, Mexico, and Panama – in that order. Each team has played eight games heading into 2022 and after the November window, we can see a clear separation between the top half and the bottom half. THE OCTAGON or “Ocho” will now head into the final two windows with each team playing three times in January/February and then three times again in March.