Ali Ahmed is tipped to start for Canada against Qatar on Thursday night UK time after shaking off a hamstring injury and making a sharp second-half cameo in the opening 1-1 draw with Bosnia. The 25-year-old was back in action in time for a World Cup homecoming in Vancouver, and that alone changes the feel around Canada’s next match.
Ahmed missed the tournament build-up after hurting his hamstring on the final day of the Championship season at Hull, but his return has come fast enough to put him in line for a bigger role against Qatar. He already has seven goal contributions in 21 City appearances since his mid-winter switch from Vancouver, and he sounded relaxed about where he is in his career. “I am 25, but I’ve only really had three years — three-and-a-half years — as a professional,” he said, adding that he is still progressing and that there is “still more to come.”
That matters because the Canada staff need him back with the tournament now moving from recovery mode to results mode. Ahmed said he feels good after getting his first game back, a match he described as necessary to “get my legs going” and clear the rust after the injury layoff. He also pointed to the second half against Bosnia as proof Canada can carry momentum into the next game, and said the team want to “go for the win” as the home side in front of what he expects to be a loud crowd.
There is still one question the team has not answered publicly: whether Ahmed will definitely start or simply looks likely to. But the signs are obvious enough. He is back, Canada need his pace and directness, and the next step is a Qatar game that could tell much more about how far this side can go at a home World Cup. Ahmed put it plainly when he said he has not really hit his peak yet. For Canada, that is the most encouraging part.
