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Ireland Upsets Canada in Pre-World Cup Friendly
6 Jun
Summary
- Canada is preparing for the 2026 World Cup with a friendly against Ireland.
- Alphonso Davies, Canada's best player, is questionable for the tournament.
- Ireland is a +500 underdog but expected to give Canada a tough match.
Canada will face Ireland in their final friendly match before the 2026 World Cup, a test designed to prepare them for heightened expectations as co-hosts. The team's rising profile in soccer is partly due to Alphonso Davies, but his participation in the upcoming tournament is uncertain, and he will not play in this friendly.
Without Davies, Canada's squad, though still featuring talents like Jonathan David and Taj Buchanan, may see heavy rotation. Manager Jesse Marsch is expected to prioritize giving minutes to reserve players. Ireland, despite missing World Cup qualification, is a tenacious side that has been developing emerging stars like Troy Parrott.
Bookmakers favor Canada at -195, but the article suggests these odds overlook the close match-up, especially with Marsch's cautious approach to player usage. Ireland, offered at +500, is presented as a compelling bet, expected to challenge Canada significantly in this tune-up game.
