Canada’s 1998 season was a transitional and largely low-profile year for the men’s national team, as they were in the midst of rebuilding after failing to qualify for the 1998 FIFA World Cup in France.
Under coach Bruce Twamley (interim) and later Holger Osieck, Canada focused on integrating younger players and preparing for the upcoming CONCACAF Gold Cup cycle. The team played a mix of friendlies and regional qualifiers, featuring players like Alex Bunbury, Carlo Corazzin, Nick Dasovic, and Paul Peschisolido.
While results were modest and international attention limited, the groundwork laid during this period would pay off two years later — when Canada famously won the 2000 CONCACAF Gold Cup, their first major international title.