Canada beat Jamaica 4-0 to reach their first men’s World Cup in 36 years.
Victory in Toronto means Canada are assured of finishing in one of the top three places in the final stage of Concacaf qualifying.
Their last World Cup appearance came at Mexico 1986, where they finished bottom of their group without scoring.
Cyle Larin and Tajon Buchanan put Canada 2-0 up at half-time before Junior Hoilett and an Adrian Mariappa own goal sealed the victory.
It led to joyous celebrations from the sell-out crowd at BMO Field as Canada clinched World Cup qualification for only the second time.
The United States, Mexico, Costa Rica and Panama are all in contention for the final two automatic Concacaf qualification spots.
The fourth-placed country in the eight-team table earns a play-off against the winner of Wednesday’s final of Oceania qualifying between the Solomon Islands and New Zealand.
Canada’s English manager John Herdman — who took over the men’s team in 2018 after a successful stint in charge of Canada’s women’s team — said the qualification was proof that Canada was a “football country”.
“You know what, you can play in a Champions League final, Canadians can play for Bayern Munich, and now they’re going to World Cups,” Herdman said in a reference to injured Canada and Bayern Munich star Alphonso Davies.
“Canada is a football nation and we better believe it. We’re going to keep going. We’ve only just got started.”
