2021 Top 5 Canadian Soccer Matches

We’ve curated a collection of the Top 5 Canadian soccer matches of 2021 for you.

For our 2021 Top 5 Canadian soccer matches we used one simple criteria:

Which Canadian soccer matches entertained us most either by their tactical and technical displays or by the passion they invoked in us.

Thankfully OneSoccer and the CBC (Olympics) have made all of these highlight packages available on their YouTube channel, so if you’ve missed any of these games you can at least watch the highlight packages here.

5. Forge FC vs. Santos de Guapiles (CONCACAF League, November 2nd 2021)

After losing 3:1 to Santos de Guapiles at the Estadio Nacional de Costa Rica, Forge FC returned to Tim Horton’s Field a week later looking to overcome a 2 goal deficit in the aggregate scoreline to advance past the Quarter Finals of the CONCACAF League.

Forge were, from the outset, imperious and after a stunningly dominant technical display closed out the match 3:0 for a 4:3 aggregate scoreline in favor of the CPL club. This result clinched Forge FC’s place in the 2022 CONCACAF Champions League, where they’ve now been drawn against Mexico’s Cruz Azul whom they will host on Wednesday, February 16th, 2022. Tickets are still available for this historic match-up.

4. Canada vs. Mexico (CONCACAF 2022 World Cup Qualifying, November 16th 2021)

Jonathan Osorio, one of Brampton’s own, had already made Canada’s adventures against Mexico in this qualifying cycle interesting and exciting with his equalizer in the Azteca. While many were hopeful, few really expected the spectacle that occurred in the Iceteca (Edmonton’s Commonwealth Stadium).

Brampton’s Cyle Larin scored twice, putting him level with Canada’s all time leading goal scorer Dwayne DeRosario. Canada led for the majority of the match and at times were absolutely unplayable. It was only in the dying minutes of the match that Mexico’s late pressure led to a meaningless consolation goal.

This match will forever be remembered as a ‘coming of age’ display from the current Men’s National team, for Sam Adekube’s “snow bank” celebration, for Cyle Larin’s clinical finishing and even for Doniel Henry’s early message to Lozano.

3. Pacific FC vs. Vancouver Whitecaps (2021 Canadian Championship, August 26th 2021)

7 of the players that ended up on the pitch for Pacific FC had been cut from either the Vancouver Whitecaps or the Whitecaps Academy. Pacific FC’s manager, the former Norweigian International Pa-Modou Kah, was also a former Whitecaps player. Marco Dos Santos, the Whitecaps coach, was relieved of his duties the morning after this blisteringly fast, blood and thunder match-up.

Manuel Aparicio (from Toronto’s east end) and Josh Heard (a former Whitecaps Academy player) were the standout performers on this day, which says a lot because the entire Pacific FC squad and Vancouver Whitecaps recent signing Ryan Gauld were absolutely sensational for the duration of the match. To see Aparicio and Heard stand out as much as they did amidst a TON of quality, one has no choice but to admire them.

2. Canada vs. Sweden (Olympic Gold Medal Match, September 17th 2021)

Canada’s stalwart defensive display, led by Brampton’s very own Kadeisha Buchanan and Ashley Lawrence (former Brams United Girls Soccer Club players) saw them through tough match after tough match at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics (in 2021, ’cause pandemic).

After disposing of their perennial tormentors the United States (who can forget the egregious officiating in the 2012 Semi-Final?) Canada had earned their spot in the final and ensured that they were going to improve on their last two Olympic outings (Bronze medalists both times).

We’ve set the highlights to start at the penalty shootout where Stephanie Labbé, appointed herself Canada’s new Minister of Defense by way of her performance.

1. Canada vs. Panama (CONCACAF 2022 World Cup Qualifying, October 13th, 2021)

We know, we know, we know… …it was just one of many games in a qualifying campaign. It wasn’t against Mexico, CONCACAF’s biggest footballing nation and FIFA #7 ranked squad. It wasn’t against the USA who’ve bullied Canada over and over again since the dawn of time. It wasn’t a Gold Medal, or even a bronze, or a trophy of any sort.

But that’s not the point – it was, arguably, the best technical and tactical display we’ve seen in a Canadian soccer match for the entire calendar year. The skill, the attitude, the energy, the passion it invoked in a nation. Alphonso Davies epic ‘lost cause’ run that resulted in a goal seen the world over. Just watch the highlights and after you watch Phonzie’s goal, wind it back and close your eyes. Listen to the collective ‘YEAH!’ from 20,000 Canadian soccer supporters as they pronounce every letter of the word in unison.

We’ll remember the big name games for years to come, but in the moment and the week or two after, this is when the majority of die-hard Canadian footie-fanatics started to think “Holy shit, this is the real deal!”