When the 2026 World Cup kicks off with the opening game in Toronto, Canadians will get to experience first-hand the culmination of several years of work to put their men's soccer program onto the biggest stage.

It may still be eight years away, but the expectation of seeing Canada co-hosting, and actually playing in, a men's World Cup is already palpable.

When Canada finally gets to that day eight years from now, we'll all be able to point to this year, 2018, as the one that changed everything for Canadian soccer.

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Obviously, the bid — a co-hosting effort shared with Mexico and the U.S. — was confirmed by FIFA during this calendar year. But with a yeoman's amount of groundwork to be pulled off between now and that fateful opening day in June 2026, the year 2018 will hold historical significance for less obvious reasons.

Less than two month's before Canada was thrust onto the world stage as a future host of the largest single-sport event on the planet, a significant step was made to help ensure that the team that would ultimately represent the Maple Leaf on opening day doesn't fail spectacularly with the world watching.

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Back in April, the Canadian Premier League officially launched after years of reports and speculation, humbly putting its logo, branding and mission statement out into the sporting consciousness. One-by-one, cities from coast-to-coast started confirming their participation in the fledgling league, with excitement rising after every announcement.

When it kicks off in 2019, the CPL will be the first fully professional men's soccer league entirely in Canada since the original CSL folded in the early 1990s. The failed circuit was born out of the excitement of Canada's lone World Cup appearance in 1986, but the CPL has taken the reverse approach by kicking off seven years ahead of the 2026 tournament, with the opportunity to help shape the program ahead of its hosting duties an exciting one.

Of course, the CPL is but one avenue by which players will be supplied to Canada's national team. Major League Soccer is already well established in the country's three biggest cities and will remain instrumental in developing players, with Canada's most promising rising star currently featuring prominently on one of its teams.

Alphonso Davies, the soft-spoken 17-year-old who has turned heads ever since he joined the professional ranks two years ago, was selected to represent Canada on the podium as the North American bid made its final push. The Vancouver Whitecaps phenom held his own in front of an audience of millions, presenting his story of immigration and acceptance in his adopted nation with poise.

"The people of North America have always welcomed me. If given the opportunity, I know they'll welcome you." - @AlphonsoDavies #United2026 pic.twitter.com/SWxus7lWuj — Major League Soccer (@MLS) June 13, 2018

It was the first many around the world had seen of Davies, but closer to home he has become known as one of MLS' most exciting young players. Having boarded a plane to Moscow in the immediate aftermath of a dominant one goal, three assist performance for the Whitecaps, Davies added "pitchman" to his growing resumé on Wednesday, and with an expected move to Europe coming in January, Davies, should he live up to his sky-high potential, will be spreading the word about Canadian soccer in the years leading up to what could be a major coming-out party in the Great White North.

As Davies progresses into a more complete player with each game, his cohorts suddenly also have a huge brass ring to strive for. Players who are now 12-18 are now presented with the massive opportunity of representing their country on the biggest stage in the world, and, thanks to a much more reserved announcement several weeks back, they now have several more pathways to work toward doing just that.

It all starts now, in 2018.