Canada World Cup 2026 Prep: Ireland Draw Highlights Mixed Form

Canada rounded off World Cup preparations with a 1-1 draw against the Republic of Ireland, while Haiti fell 2-1 to Peru, leaving both teams without a victory from their final warm-up fixtures but still gaining key lessons before the tournament begins.

Jesse Marsch’s Canada side created plenty but lacked accuracy, producing 20 attempts and 12 efforts from inside the area, yet hitting the target only twice and registering 1.1 expected goals, which highlighted an attacking display that promised more than the final score suggested.

Liam Millar was Canada’s most active threat with five shots, while Ismael Kone, Cyle Larin and Jonathan David each tried three times without success, meaning the team’s only goal came from Jake O'Brien’s misfortune rather than from Canada’s own finishing.

Canada started on the front foot, with Tajon Buchanan forcing an early save, and the pressure finally brought reward in the 23rd minute when Stephen Eustaquio’s corner caused confusion and O'Brien diverted the ball into the net for an own goal in a crowded penalty area.

Ireland created far fewer openings, finishing with five attempts and three shots on target, but still produced 1.56 expected goals, a figure boosted heavily by the penalty situation that changed the match late on and cost Canada a win.

The turning point came when Larin caught Jamie McGrath with a raised boot just inside the box, handing Ireland a spot-kick that Maxime Crepeau initially saved from Troy Parrott, only for Chiedozie Ogbene to react first and drive the rebound into the net to level the contest.

After the equaliser, Canada continued to search for a decisive goal before the final whistle, yet substitute goalkeeper Mark Travers stood firm for Ireland, making key interventions that denied the hosts and left Marsch’s players frustrated ahead of their World Cup opener against Bosnia-Herzegovina on June 12.

World Cup warm-up: Haiti stunned late by Peru

Haiti endured even more disappointment in the final rehearsal, taking the lead through Wilson Isidor early on against Peru before conceding twice in the closing stages, as Renzo Garces struck in the 81st minute and Jairo Velez followed in the 84th minute to complete a late turnaround.

World Cup outlook: Canada’s European record and key trends

Despite failing to win, Canada extended an unbeaten sequence against European opponents to six matches, with three victories and three draws since a 4-0 defeat to Netherlands in June 2024, a run that offers encouragement before facing Bosnia-Herzegovina in the group stage.

Neither Canada nor Haiti achieved the ideal send-off result, yet both teams gained clear evidence of areas needing improvement, with Canada’s finishing and Haiti’s late-game management emerging as central issues as World Cup competition approaches for both national sides.