Canadian soccer coach John Herdman says hosting World Cup gives country clarity
TORONTO — The prospect of coaching a World Cup on home soil helped draw John Herdman to leave his New Zealand coaching job to take over the Canadian women.
“Are we the favourites for this event? No,” Herdman told a news conference in Edmonton in June 2015 on the eve of his Canadian team kicking off the Women’s World Cup. “Can we get on a roll in this tournament with our country behind us? Yes.”
Inspire the nation was the Canadian women’s mantra three years ago. Now Herdman, in charge of the Canadian men’s program, has another home soccer showcase to look forward to in the wake of Wednesday’s vote awarding the 2026 men’s World Cup to the joint North American bid of Canada, the U.S. and Mexico.
“It’s fantastic. It’s big moment, a huge moment,” Herdman said in an interview. “I thought the Women’s World Cup in 2015 would be sort of the pinnacle of being part of Canadian football. But this is just massive for our country. I think we all know the impact this will have both on and off the field.