Canada’s senior men’s national team continue their journey to the 2018 FIFA World Cup this week and next with a pair of crucial qualifiers vs. Honduras and El Salvador. Included on the Canadian roster are Vancouver Whitecaps FC defenders Marcel de Jong and David Edgar.

Here’s a look back – and ahead – at Canada’s Road to Russia.

HOW THEY GOT HERE

Canada began their 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign over a year ago in the capital city of Roseau, Dominica – a small Caribbean island just north of South America. In June 2015, Canada defeated Dominica by an aggregate score of 6-0 over the two legs to advance to the next round of qualifying.

Whitecaps FC midfielder Russell Teibert converted a penalty in the first leg.

Next up was a home-and-home series with Belize in September of last year, with Canada winning 4-1 on aggregate over the two legs.

With that, Canada moved to the fourth round of qualifying, which began last November. They have played a total of four matches thus far, including two at BC Place.

See the current standings below.

GROUP A STANDINGS

TEAM GP W L D GD PTS Mexico 4 4 0 0 +10 12 Honduras 4 1 2 1 -1 4 Canada 4 1 2 1 -4 4 El Salvador 4 0 2 2 -5 2



WHAT’S NEXT?

The top two teams from the group will advance to the fifth and final round of qualifying, known as the “Hexagonal,” or the “Hex.” So what does Canada need from these next two matches to get there? Well, ideally two wins, which would guarantee they advance.

But there are still several different scenarios.

Four points – a draw at Honduras and win vs. El Salvador – would also give them a very good chance, assuming Honduras doesn’t beat Mexico in their group stage finale (if they do, the second spot would come down to goal differential).

It’s even possible that Canada could advance with a pair of draws – once again assuming that Mexico takes care of business against Honduras.

We’ll just have to wait and see.

In the Hex, each of the remaining six teams will compete in a home-and-home round robin group, with the top three teams earning a World Cup berth and the fourth going to a playoff.

The last time Canada reached the Hex was 1997.

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