The Canadian Men’s National Soccer Team spent the weekend in Vancouver, training for what is likely their best chance at a piece of silverware in recent history.

This version of the CONCACAF Gold Cup is acting as the one-year lead-in to the FIFA Men’s World Cup. Canada has won the Gold Cup twice in their history: once in 1985 (as the CONCACAF Championship) and again in 2000.

Canadian men’s head coach Jesse Marsch said everyone—from the players to the coaching and support staff—understands how important this tournament is and what it means.

“I’ve explained my feelings about this tournament to the team over the last months,” Marsch said. “But I didn’t really have to. They all said to me, ‘We’re coming. We want to win it.’ That’s a big statement. But that’s how they feel.”

It’s been a long road from that last win to now, a generation of dry years. Canada has found success in the CONCACAF Nations League but only as a runner-up or third-place finalist. They won the inaugural Canadian Shield earlier this month, but the foundations of the tournament are still in their infancy.

The Gold Cup consists of 16 teams arranged in four groups of four. Each team plays the others in their group once. The top two of each group qualify for single-elimination knockouts.

That means each team is guaranteed three matches. Canada is in a group with Curaçao, El Salvador and Honduras.

Their first test, Honduras, is this Tuesday, June 17.

Marsch said rotation will be important for his 26-man rosters, given that matches come every three to four days. But in the group stage, Honduras is the biggest test.

“We’re going to put a version of the best team we think can beat Honduras. Squad rotation will be more now used to make sure that we have fresh legs,” Marsch said.

Earlier this month, Canada participated in the Canadian Shield, a four-team invitational tournament that saw them walk away with the trophy. Their last match against Côte d’Ivoire was a physical test used to prepare the squad for the kinds of matches they can expect.

“I think that Côte d’Ivoire is a good match for us to understand what Honduras is going to be like because I think Honduras, after us, is the next most physical, athletic team,” the head coach said. “You could also give Jamaica and Panama in this area.”

Canada rates their chances high in this tournament. Since the end of Copa America last year, they have posted a 7W-1D-2L record. The US has sputtered in recent matches, going winless in their last four heading into the Gold Cup. Mexico has won three of their previous four leading up to the tournament.

Canadian striker Cyle Larin was bullish at training over his team’s chances.

“I think we’re the best team in this tournament,” Larin said. “But I think each game, you take step-by-step because you never know in football what can happen. I think the first game [against] Honduras will be a good test.”

Commitment and new blood for Canada

One area where Marsch has improved Canada is the player pool. He has been relentless in recruiting dual nationals.

Those include AFC Bournemouth striker Daniel Jebbison, Royale Union Saint-Gilloise striker Promise David and Fulham U21s defender Luc de Fougerolles.

It also includes HNK Hajduk’s Niko Sigur.

Sigur was born in Burnaby, Canada to Croatian parents. He was capped six times for the Croatian U21s but switched allegiance to Canada for the senior team.

Marsch said any player he brings into the side has to show they belong.

“Even when I talk to the dual nationals about coming here, when I recruited new players, I’m like, ‘Look, man, this is not a team you can just come to because it’s good for your career and you’re looking to maybe get more playing minutes and continue to establish yourself. The only way you can come into this team is if you are all in, and you are fully committed to this group because they’ll sniff out a phony in a second. And they won’t allow anyone to not be totally committed to each other.’”

Sigur has fond memories of growing up in the Vancouver area and reflected on coming to BC Place to watch the Vancouver Whitecaps and the national team when they played there.

“I think that last time I was at BC Place was for a national team game,” he said. “I was a ball boy in 2019, 2018. I think that was the last time I was there. But I grew up going to BC Place to watch the Whitecaps. I played for the Whitecaps for two years here. I’d go to most home games. And also, Empire Field when the Whitecaps came into MLS.”

He said that during that national team game, he remembered watching the likes of Alphonso Davies and Jonathan David as they were getting their break.

“At that time, I was 15, 16 years old, but I wanted to see, “How would I play that situation in a game like that? And it was a good intensity and I always knew in the back of my mind that I could play there one day. And here I am.”

Sigur also mirrored Marsch’s comments that players who decide to play for Canada cannot simply coast. He said he was happy with being a part of the setup, but that was just the beginning.

“It’s nice. But more of the type of guy that’s not just happy being here and being a part of it. I want to contribute, and know I can contribute. So obviously, it’s nice to be here, but I also want to make an impact and help the team because I know I can.”

Canada’s first match in the Gold Cup is Tuesday, June 17. Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m.