5 best moments from Canada's World Cup qualifying campaign

Canada's actually going to the World Cup. theScore looks back at the most memorable moments of the national team's spellbinding qualification campaign.

5. Slaying demons in San Pedro Sula ☠️

Canada traveled to Honduras with plenty of baggage. All the talk before the national team's World Cup qualifier at the Estadio Olimpico Metropolitano was about the 8-1 thrashing it suffered in October 2012, the rocks and debris fans threw at Canada's bus on the way to the stadium, and the intimidating atmosphere within it.

But all of that would remain in the rearview mirror.

Honduras entered the January fixture without a win in the Octagonal - or its usual fanatical support. The crowd, dampened because of local COVID-19 restrictions, was a nonfactor. Canada forced an own goal early, and Jonathan David sealed the win with one of the best goals in CONCACAF qualifying, taking down a laser beam of a pass from substitute Liam Fraser before lifting the ball over the goalkeeper.

The only other time Canada won in Honduras was in August 1985, months before its only other World Cup appearance.

4. Dos a Cero in Hamilton 😎

When Sam Adekugbe slotted home in the 95th minute, the crowd in Hamilton erupted, not only because Canada had secured its first win over the United States in World Cup qualifying since 1980, but because it had survived an onslaught. The U.S. dominated possession and outshot its northern host 13-8, while Canada sat back and absorbed all the pressure.

Even without Alphonso Davies - who missed the final six games of qualifying due to heart inflammation - John Herdman's side proved resilient. Cyle Larin became Canada's all-time leading scorer with an early goal, goalkeeper Milan Borjan produced a stunning save off a corner kick to keep the Americans off the scoresheet, and Alistair Johnston held down the fort with hard-nosed defending.

Adekugbe's insurance marker sparked incredible scenes at Tim Hortons Field. Despite freezing temperatures and local restrictions limiting the crowd to just 12,000, Herdman said the atmosphere in Hamilton made him feel like he was "living in a football country" for the first time in his tenure.

"It was amazing," Herdman added. "The flares were going off. It was like Liverpool arriving for a Champions League game."

3. Adekugbe's iconic celebration ☃️

Adekugbe's "snowbank celly" in November could go down as the most Canadian celebration of all time.

The 27-year-old exploded onto the freezing mound after Larin scored his second goal against Mexico at Edmonton's Commonwealth Stadium, which took in as much as 20 centimeters (7.9 inches) of snow in blizzard-like conditions. And it wasn't without merit: Canada was on its way to beating the world's 10th-ranked team for the first time in 21 years.

If the world hadn't already taken note of Canada's soccer team, Adekugbe changed that with the leap of a lifetime.

2. Phonzy's solo stunner 👑

Davies scored arguably the greatest goal in Canadian soccer history against Panama in October, going on an incredible 80-yard run to give his country the lead in an eventual 4-1 win at BMO Field.

The 21-year-old speedster burst out of his own end to chase what seemed to be a dead play, and just as Panamanian defender Harold Cummings appeared to settle for a throw-in, Davies regained possession with his trailing foot before sprinting in on goal and guiding the ball inside the near post.

Global superstar and local hero Drake sent a text to Davies after the game, saying he wanted to meet the team. Back then, Canada was only beginning its run in the Octagonal, and the win over Panama was just its second of the qualification campaign. Davies' goal put the country on notice.

"Phonzie's a big influencer in this group," Herdman said at the time. "He's a humble guy, but when he speaks, it reminds of (Christine) Sinclair. When he speaks, people listen."

1. Party time at BMO Field 🥳

A dream became reality on Sunday. With a breezy 4-0 win over Jamaica, Canada qualified for the World Cup for the first time since 1986. The game was over as a contest after the first half, with BMO Field spending much of the second in party mode.

Midfielder Jonathan Osorio, a Toronto native who's spent his entire career with Toronto FC, led the postgame celebrations on his home turf.

"I'm speechless. It's a dream come true," Osorio said. "We all dreamed of this as little kids. And as a Canadian, that was impossible. Today the impossible happened. It's an incredible feeling."

Honorable mention: Earning a point at the Azteca