Canada rout Qatar 6-0 for historic first World Cup win as Mexico reach the knockouts
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Canada claimed their first World Cup win in style, hammering Qatar 6-0 in Vancouver behind a Jonathan David hat-trick. Cyle Larin and Nathan Saliba also scored, with an own goal completing the rout, as Qatar finished with nine men after two red cards. According to ESPN, the margin equalled the record for a tournament host, and David became the first player to score a World Cup hat-trick on home soil since Geoff Hurst in 1966; the result leaves Canada on four points and close to the knockout round.
Mexico became the first team to reach the round of 32, edging South Korea 1-0 at Estadio Guadalajara. Luis Romo settled it after goalkeeper Kim Seung-gyu spilled a cross, the midfielder volleying into an empty net on his World Cup debut, per Al Jazeera and Opta. The co-hosts top Group A with the win.
Switzerland took a major step toward qualification with a 4-1 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina in Los Angeles, with substitutes decisive late on. Freiburg's Johan Manzambi, 20, scored twice, Ruben Vargas added another and Granit Xhaka converted a penalty, Sky Sports reported, after Bosnia had pulled one back through Ermin Mahmic and been reduced to ten men.
The day's other Group A game finished level, Czechia and South Africa drawing 1-1 in Atlanta to leave both still seeking a first win and keep the group tight behind Mexico.
Day 9 brings the United States into the tournament against Australia in Seattle, alongside Brazil's meeting with Haiti and Scotland against Morocco, completing the host trio's early fixtures.
Transfer and squad notes
Canada's win was tempered by an injury to midfielder Ismael Koné, who went off during the Qatar game; the severity was not confirmed in early reports, so treat his status as unclear pending an update.
Qatar face a disciplinary headache after collecting two red cards in the defeat, with suspensions looming for their final group fixture; the sanctions had not been formally detailed at the time of writing.
What it means for the league
The co-hosts are surging: Mexico are through with a game to spare and Canada announced themselves with a result that matches the biggest host wins in the tournament's history. Group B is taking shape around Switzerland, while Group A stays competitive behind the leaders after the Czechia–South Africa stalemate. With the United States kicking off their campaign on June 19, all three host nations will have shown their hand, framing the race for the expanded knockout bracket.