Qatar’s hopes of reaching the knockout stage of the FIFA World Cup for the first time suffered a major setback after a heavy 6-0 defeat to Canada on Thursday in Group B action.

The Qatari side failed to replicate the performance that earned them a 1-1 draw against Switzerland in their opening match and struggled throughout the contest.

Qatar’s task became even more difficult after the dismissals of Homam Al Amin in the 33rd minute and Assim Madibo in the 53rd minute, leaving the team with nine players for a significant portion of the match.

Canada capitalized on its numerical advantage and dominated the encounter, securing a convincing victory that significantly complicates Qatar’s chances of advancing to the knockout rounds.