'It's a fight for the top of the table' as Canada meets U.S. in World Cup qualifier in Hamilton

Canada hosts the United States in men's World Cup qualifying on Sunday — a clash of the best and second-best teams in CONCACAF, at least by the table's current reckoning. 

At this point in the proceedings, there's a reasonable, possibly cynical argument to be made that they should settle for a draw in cold, snowy Hamilton, as they did in their first meeting in Nashville in September. Given the shape of the table and the games left to play, splitting the points will leave both in strong positions to advance to Qatar.

John Herdman, Canada's head coach, has been doing more optimistic math.   

"It's a fight for the top of the table," Herdman said after training on Saturday, when the wind chill in Hamilton approached minus-25 Celsius. "That's all I need to say in terms of what this means to us … Canada [is] coming."

It takes some imagination to think so. More of the Americans are in game shape, members of the biggest clubs in Europe; Canada's undisputed star, Alphonso Davies, is out with myocarditis, a complication the result of a bout with COVID. 

WATCH | What to expect in Canada vs. U.S.:

The U.S. beat El Salvador 1-0 in Columbus, Ohio on Thursday and haven't had far to travel; the Canadians didn't arrive home from Honduras until 6 a.m. Friday morning after their own 2-0 win in San Pedro Sula. And with Tim Hortons Field at half-capacity, and the Americans as used to the cold, home-field advantage won't be as much of a blessing as it might have been.

But there is a question in the frosty air: What's the value of belief? As hokey as it might sound, there is a buoyancy to this Canadian team, an irresistible uprush of good feeling. They are undefeated through nine games. Jonathan David and Tajon Buchanan both looked world-class