What do France and Colombia have in common other than having years of being led by Real Madrid superstars? They’ve both drawn 0–0 against Canada’s men’s national team under head coach Jesse Marsch.
On Tuesday, Canada played to a scoreless draw against No. 13-ranked Colombia in Harrison, New Jersey, limiting the high-scoring South Americans and nearly silencing over 20,000 fans.
“This is a positive result for us,” Canadian midfielder Ali Ahmed, who was a consistent threat, told . “It's a top 15 team, and I think it didn't look one-sided, even in front of a crowd full of Colombia fans.”
In Marsch’s second game in charge back in May 2024, Canada ground out at the same result against France, with the former World Cup winners ruing the lackluster finishing of Kylian Mbappé on that occasion.
Against Colombia, things were more even than that night in Bordeaux. Canada only allowed a single shot on target and Jonathan David scored in the 76th minute, only for his strike to be called back for offside in the buildup.
With eight months to go until the 2026 FIFA World Cup, going toe-to-toe with the world’s best is the expectation, and scoreless draws mean more, given the value of a point at an event that will host 48 countries for the first time.
“I expect us against teams like this to be good, to be better on the day, and to win. I think they've built that expectation in themselves, and I've built that for them and with them,” Marsch told reporters post-match. “We are the type of team that can play in these games, be better in these games, and win these games.
"I told the guys that when you look forward to the World Cup, clean sheets are a premium. If you get clean sheets, you always give yourself a chance.”
