According to the number crunchers at Opta, Canada recorded an astonishing 97 touches inside the opposition penalty area, the most ever registered in a FIFA World Cup match since detailed records began in 1966. The previous record was held by Germany, who managed 71 touches against Costa Rica at the 2022 tournament. Canada’s total was a staggering 26 higher.

That figure perfectly captures how one-sided the Group B clash was in Vancouver. Jesse Marsch’s side swarmed Qatar from the opening whistle, creating chance after chance in front of a packed BC Place crowd. Jonathan David helped himself to a hat trick, while Cyle Larin and Nathan Saliba also got on the scoresheet in a historic 6-0 victory.

And the records did not stop there.

Canada’s win was the country’s first-ever victory at a men’s World Cup, while David became only the second player from outside Europe or South America to score a World Cup hat trick, following American Bert Patenaude way, way back in 1930.

Why were Canada so dominant?

The warning signs were already there. In their opening draw against Bosnia and Herzegovina, Canada produced 37 touches in the opposition box and largely controlled the game. Against Qatar, they turned that territorial dominance into a full-scale assault.

By the final whistle, the co-hosts had not only collected three crucial points but had also set one of the most extraordinary attacking records the World Cup has ever seen. When a team enters the box 97 times, a commentator’s “knocking on the door” barely covers it. They practically moved in.

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