Canada's World Cup group is no easy task, but draw could have been worseCanada's men's soccer team faces a massive task to advance out of a first-round group that includes two of the best teams in the world in Belgium and Croatia.

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Coach John Herdman preaches 'no fear' for his young Canadian team

John Molinaro · for CBC Sports(Carla Rawson/CBC Sports)comments

Pretty tough, but it could have been worse. 

That seems to be the general consensus among Canadian soccer fans and pundits following Friday's official draw in Doha for the 2022 FIFA World Cup that placed Canada in Group F alongside Belgium, Croatia and Morocco. 

Roughly an hour after the draw was completed, Canadian coach John Herdman was all smiles when speaking to reporters via Zoom in Toronto, calling it a "surreal moment" when his team was finally picked last of the 32 nations that will compete in Qatar.

• Canada to face Belgium, Croatia and Morocco in group stage at World Cup in Qatar

"I don't know how many years people probably in this country had to endure a [World Cup] draw and be ready to support their secondary team," Herdman said. "To have our team pulled out [of a pot] and just to see that this is real, Canada is on the big stage now.

"And we're not just heading to Qatar. We're ready to play in Qatar and where we know the teams we've got. We have a wonderful opportunity ahead of us."

WATCH | John Molinaro on Canada's stiff competition in World Cup group stage:

John Molinaro speaks about the CanMNT's World Cup opposition

2 days agoDuration 2:47CBC's Aarti Pole speaks with John Molinaro about the stiff competition that CanMNT will face at the World Cup after Friday's draw.More soccer coverage

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