The Voyageurs: The Canadian Men's Soccer Team's Quest to Reach the World Cup

Joshua Kloke's book "The Rise of Canadian Mens Soccer" chronicles the journey of the Canadian men's soccer team from obscurity to international prominence, featuring insights from star players like Alphonso Davies and Jonathan David and manager John Herdman.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 264 pages
Publication date: 01 November 2022
Publisher: Dundurn Group Ltd

The last time Canada qualified for a men's World Cup was in 1986. For a generation afterward, the Canadian national men's soccer team struggled in obscurity, an afterthought in a country that was not yet soccer-mad. The twenty-first century brought a wave of soccer passion and expertise to this frozen country — and a crop of new superstar players who lifted the forgotten team into the international spotlight. Alphonso Davies and Jonathan David are now internationally known names, and soccer a national obsession.

Through interviews with players and coaches, Joshua Kloke tracks the rise of men's soccer in Canada from darkness to the world stage in 2022. This is the inside story of how the best team in Canadian soccer history grew from disappointment to international fame.

The early years:

Canada's men's soccer team had a rocky start in the early 1900s. The team was not very competitive, and it struggled to qualify for international tournaments. In the 1950s and 1960s, the team's fortunes began to improve, but it still had a long way to go.

The rise of the national team:

In the 1970s, the Canadian national men's soccer team began to make some progress. The team qualified for the CONCACAF Gold Cup, the region's top soccer tournament, for the first time in 1973. In 1978, the team qualified for the FIFA World Cup for the first time in 36 years.

The 1986 World Cup:

Canada's men's soccer team had its best performance at the 1986 World Cup. The team qualified for the tournament by winning the CONCACAF Gold Cup, and it went on to surprise many people by reaching the second round of the tournament. In the second round, the team lost to eventual champion Argentina, but it still had a memorable performance.

The 1990s:

The 1990s were a difficult period for Canada's men's soccer team. The team struggled to qualify for international tournaments, and it was not until the 1994 World Cup that the team qualified for another major tournament.

The 2000s:

The 2000s were a breakthrough period for Canada's men's soccer team. The team qualified for the CONCACAF Gold Cup in 2000, 2002, and 2005, and it reached the quarterfinals of the tournament in 2002. In 2003, the team qualified for the FIFA World Cup for the second time in 16 years.

The 2010s:

The 2010s were a mixed period for Canada's men's soccer team. The team qualified for the CONCACAF Gold Cup in 2011, 2015, and 2017, but it struggled to qualify for the FIFA World Cup.

The 2020s:

The 2020s have been a breakout period for Canada's men's soccer team. The team qualified for the CONCACAF Gold Cup in 2021, and it went on to reach the semifinals of the tournament. In 2022, the team qualified for the FIFA World Cup for the third time in 26 years.

The players:

Several key players have contributed to Canada's rise to international prominence. Alphonso Davies, a left-back who plays for Bayern Munich in Germany, is one of the most talented players in the world. Jonathan David, a striker who plays for Lille in France, is another key player. Other notable players include Steven Davies, Cyle Larin, and Atiba Hutchinson.

The manager:

John Herdman is the manager of Canada's men's soccer team. He has been the manager since 2018, and he has led the team to its best performances in years. Herdman has a reputation for being a hard-working and detail-oriented manager, and he has brought a new level of professionalism to the team.

Conclusion:

Canada's men's soccer team has come a long way since its early days in obscurity. The team has qualified for three consecutive FIFA World Cups, and it has become a national obsession. Alphonso Davies and Jonathan David are now internationally known names, and soccer is a national obsession. Through interviews with players and coaches, Joshua Kloke has tracked the rise of men's soccer in Canada from darkness to the world stage in 2022. This is the inside story of how the best team in Canadian soccer history grew from disappointment to international fame.

Weight: 374g
Dimension: 153 x 227 x 18 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781459750456