![The Canadian national team has not qualified for a World Cup since 1986. [nid:325258]](https://images.mlssoccer.com/image/private/t_editorial_landscape_12_desktop_3x/f_auto/prd-league/offrmta38sjvdsee7ks4.jpg)
Over the past few days — and ahead of the league welcoming its second Canadian franchise, the Vancouver Whitecaps, into the fold — MLSsoccer.com has been exploring the state of Canadian soccer — where it's been, where it's at and where it's going. Here, Toronto FC beat writer Duane Rollins takes a look at the national team and its prospects for qualifying for the 2014 World Cup and beyond.
TORONTO — If qualifying for the World Cup was as simple as lining up Canada’s best 11 players against the rest of the region, former Canadian international Jason deVos has little doubt that the Canucks will be in Brazil in 2014.
Unfortunately, there is a bit more to it than that.
“Our Best XI matches up with anyone in the region,” deVos said, “but we really struggle with depth. As soon as there are a few injuries, we are in trouble.”
DeVos’ opinion is echoed by most close observers of the game in Canada. Making it to Brazil is viewed as a long-shot, at best. Some high-profile commentators have even gone so far as to call the task impossible more than a year away from the start of qualifying.
However, at least one current player disagrees with those assessments.
[inlinenode:325260]“We really have a lot of confidence in Stephen [Hart, national team head coach],” PSV Eindhoven’s Atiba Hutchinson said during a press conference announcing him as the 2010 Canadian player of the year.
“The guys are confident that with the right support and preparation that we can compete with anyone in the region.”
Hutchinson (at right) points to next summer’s Gold Cup as being key to the national team’s confidence. With a deep run in the tournament – Canada have made the semifinals or better three times during the last decade – the Canadians could springboard the performance to success in World Cup qualifying.
Canadians can be forgiven for being skeptical. The same argument was made in 2007 after they narrowly lost to the United States in the Gold Cup semifinal. However, that strong performance was followed up with arguably the worst World Cup qualifying campaign in Canada’s history.
One difference between 2007 and now is the man in charge of the team. At that Gold Cup, Hart was in charge as an interim manager. Dale Mitchell, who had been in charge of Canada’s U-20 program, was hired to take over despite a no-goal, no-points performance at Canada's very own U-20 World Cup.
Just two years later, Mitchell was out the door, and Hart was once again back in charge. Under Hart, the performance of the team improved and Canada had another solid run at the 2009 Gold Cup.
Although Hart may not have a particularly impressive a résumé, the players have consistently performed for him.
[inlinenode:325261]Long-range goals
But according to deVos, it’s going to take more than good coaching to get Canada to the World Cup. Reaching Brazil will take an ample amount of good fortune and several players stepping up their game. DeVos added that qualifying for 2014 would be a wonderful bonus for Canadians, but that the country’s focus needs to be a longer view.
Systematic changes to the way the country identifies and develops talent is what is needed to make World Cup dreams a consistent reality, deVos said.
According to deVos, who is technical director of the country’s largest youth soccer club, there are youth clubs across the country that are trying to make the needed changes by moving away from a result-oriented philosophy (winning trophies) to one that is more focused on getting elite players to the next level — even if that means that the club wins fewer games.
Changes are happening, but the effect of those changes will take time.
“If we are able to institute the widespread changes that we are trying to make the results won’t be really seen for at least a decade," he said. "Certainly they won’t affect 2014. Even 2018 might be too soon. For Canada, the real target might be 2022.”
DeVos said he understands Canadians might not want to hear that message, but they should remain realistic. However, even he can’t completely stop himself from dreaming about the possibilities of going to Brazil.
“You always hope,” he said. “You never know. Everything could come together and Canada could find itself in Brazil.”
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