Canada lost 2-1 to Switzerland on Wednesday night in the final round of the group stage, finishing only second in the group. The result means the host nation will have to move on to California for its next match instead of continuing to play on home soil.
The Canadian team needed only a draw to finish first in the group and keep the advantage of playing at home, but it failed to secure that result. The loss is seen as a major disappointment after Canada had hoped to top the group and gain a significant edge in the knockout rounds.
The switch to California adds to the frustration, especially because Canada enjoyed strong local support throughout the group stage. The article describes the development as historic, saying this is the first time ever in a World Cup that the host will play outside its own country.
For Canada, which had dreamed of a strong home campaign, the defeat against Switzerland leaves it with a far less favorable path than it expected at the start of the group stage.
