Canada lost 2-1 to Switzerland on Wednesday in the final match of the group stage, finishing second in the group instead of first. The result means the red team will play its next match in California, rather than continuing the tournament on home soil.
Canada only needed a draw to win the group and keep the significant advantage of playing in front of its home crowd. Instead, the loss left the team disappointed after a campaign in which it had hoped to secure a strong finish and benefit from home-field support throughout the competition.
The move is historic: for the first time ever in a World Cup, the host nation will play outside its own country. For Canada, which had dreamed of an exceptional home tournament, the forced relocation adds another layer of frustration and underscores how far the campaign has fallen short of expectations.
The Canadians were also regarded as favorites to top the group, making the missed opportunity especially painful. Switzerland's victory sent Canada into the next round in a more difficult position, now facing a high-stakes away match in California instead of the home advantage it had sought.
