VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) 鈥� Canada鈥檚 first win at a came at a cost, and 22-year-old Nathan Saliba now might be the player asked to steady the midfield after his breakout performance in the
Canada鈥檚 win was clouded by the gruesome injury to Isma毛l Kon茅, who after a challenge from Qatar鈥檚 Assim Madibo. Saliba replaced Kon茅 and, less than 10 minutes later, he scored. He then held up Kon茅鈥檚 jersey in tribute.
鈥淪aliba is a top player,鈥� forward Liam Millar said before Canada鈥檚 training session Sunday. 鈥淗e understands the game very well 鈥� he鈥檚 a very mature player, especially for his age.鈥�
Canada coach Jesse Marsch has not said who will fill Kon茅鈥檚 role against higher-ranked Switzerland on Wednesday.
Another option could be Bayern Munich star Alphonso Davies, who has not yet played in this World Cup due to a lingering hamstring injury. With a chance to top Group B and stay home in Vancouver for the Round of 32, Marsch could decide this is the moment for the veteran player鈥檚 long-awaited return.
Against Qatar, it was Saliba who delivered an immediate response to getting the call.
The Anderlecht midfielder curled a direct free kick from just outside the penalty area around Qatar鈥檚 wall and off the right post for Canada鈥檚 fourth goal of the game.
It was Saliba鈥檚 third international goal, his first at a World Cup and Canada鈥檚 first from a direct free kick at a World Cup.
Saliba鈥檚 tribute to Kon茅 pointed to a close bond Canada’s squad has developed while dealing with multiple injuries that complicated its journey to this World Cup.
鈥淲hen you have great brotherhood outside of the field,鈥� Saliba said after the Qatar match, 鈥渋t helps you make sacrifices on the pitch.鈥�
Kon茅 is the fourth Canada player in four years to face recovery for a broken leg. Goalkeeper Maxime Cr茅peau鈥檚 injury cost him a place at the last World Cup, and forward Tajon Buchanan had to recover from a broken leg in 2024.
Defender Mo茂se Bombito broke his leg in October. He saw his first 2026 World Cup action against Qatar and had been on the pitch for just five minutes when Kon茅, a close friend, was badly injured.
鈥淚 try to be there as much as I could for him and let him know that he鈥檚 not alone,鈥� Bombito said at a Canada training session Monday.
Saliba, eager to be there for his team in Kon茅鈥檚 role, established himself as a trusted option against Qatar.
He has started only seven of his 16 appearances for Canada, compared with Kon茅鈥檚 32 starts in 42 matches. Both players came through CF Montreal鈥檚 system, with Kon茅 starring for the club in 2021 and 2022, and Saliba making his debut in 2023.
Saliba鈥檚 goal against Qatar was only part of what impressed his teammates. Midfielder Stephen Eust谩quio said after the match that Saliba also provided 鈥渕idfield presence,鈥� helping Canada regain its footing after the emotional blow of losing Kon茅.
Saliba didn’t play in Canada鈥檚 opening , and Marsch acknowledged that he was often overlooked earlier because of the team鈥檚 depth in the midfield.
鈥淚鈥檓 glad that (Saliba) trusted me,鈥� Marsch said after his young midfielder鈥檚 performance against Qatar, 鈥渆ven though I let him down a bunch of times. I think the way that he鈥檚 played has shown that I made some mistakes along the way.鈥�
Saliba, he added, has 鈥渁 good eye for attacking plays, a good eye for passing final plays.鈥�
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Drew Renner is a student in the University of Georgia鈥檚 Carmical Sports Media Institute.
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