Canada's World Cup dream ends with failure to reach the Hex

All eyes on 2022.

Despite a 3-1 victory over 10-man El Salvador on Tuesday, Canada was eliminated from contention for the final stage of CONCACAF qualifying for the 2018 World Cup, Benito Floro's side missing out on the Hex by virtue of Honduras' goalless draw against Mexico in the group's concurrent contest.

The results see Honduras finish second in the section on eight points, while Canada could only muster seven. Even a Honduras loss would likely not have been enough for Canada, as Los Catrachos came into the evening with a substantial advantage on goal difference.

Mexico, meanwhile, cruised into the Hex, having secured passage long before Tuesday night's action.

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Canada, whose only appearance at the World Cup came in 1986, will now have to wait another cycle, with attention shifting to the 2022 edition of the competition.

Questions will be asked of Floro, whose timid tactics and baffling substitutions drew the ire of Canadian fans throughout the qualifying campaign - particularly on Tuesday, when Canada, leading 2-0, up a man and needing goals, took striker Cyle Larin off in favour of defensive midfielder Samuel Piette.

Junior Hoilett, who looked equally dangerous on the night, was removed shortly after.

Though infuriating for Canadian supporters, the moves were consistent with the Spanish tactician's approach on the touchline. The defining result for the Canadians was arguably the goalless draw away to El Salvador earlier in the round, where a defensive lineup offered little going forward, spurning a chance to pick up what would have been three invaluable points.

As former Canadian international Patrice Bernier noted after Tuesday's contest, that scoreline loomed large on the final group standings: