WORLD CUP: Canada overpowers Qatar with massive 6-0 victory

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5:01 p.m.

Let the celebrations begin, Vancouver! The host nation wraps up its first-ever victory on the World Cup stage with a massive 6-0 win. Switzerland awaits…

4:53 p.m.

Total domination!! David completes his hat trick and makes it 6-0 for Canada in the 92nd minute, making it the largest margin of victory for any CONCACAF team at the World Cup. The last time a World Cup host country player scored a hat trick was Geoff Hurst for England in 1966.

4:49 p.m.

If the result holds, Canada will sit atop Group B on goal differential and can win the group with a draw versus Switzerland on Wednesday.

4:37 p.m.

The rout continues. Canada’s up 5-0 as Qatar gives up an own goal in the 75th minute. The fans have started an ‘Olé, Olé, Olé’ chant.

4:25 p.m.

Another one!! It’s 4-0 Canada as Nathan Saliba bends in a beautiful free kick from just outside the box.

4:21 p.m.

Play resumes with the crowd much more subdued.

4:17 p.m.

Fans cheer for Kone as he is taken off the field on a stretcher. Qatar down to nine men after Assim Madibo is banished with a red card.

4:14 p.m.

A hush falls over BC Place as Canada’s Ismael Kone suffers a horrific injury following a tackle.

3:57 p.m.

Total domination from Canada after the first half. Canada carried 67 per cent of possession and had eight shots on goal to none for Qatar, down to 10 men after Homam Elamin received a red card.

3:48 p.m.

Goooooooooooaaaaaaaaaaaaaaal!

David has his second in the 48th minute.

It’s 3-0 Canada, and it’s possible all of Vancouver heard the roar from downtown and from the FIFA Fan Zone at the PNE Amphitheatre.

“We’re the greatest country in the world!” yells an employee from the kitchen of a Granville Street eatery, breaking into O Canada as he prepares food.

3:32 p.m.

Canada is up 2-0 as Jonathan David finds net, and the atmosphere is electric in Vancouver – at the FIFA Fan Zone in the PNE Amphitheatre, where the noise is deafening, and on Granville Street, where the street is jammed with game-watchers.

3:16 p.m.

Goooooooooooaaaaaaaaaaaaal!

Cyle Larin makes it 1-0 Canada as the fans erupt. The noise is deafening in the PNE Amphitheatre as the FIFA Fan Zone goes wild.

3:13 p.m.

Throngs of fans are squeezing their way down Granville Street and pub patios are packed as fans turn out in downtown Vancouver for the FIFA World Cup action.

Canada is playing Qatar at BC Place. No score so far 14 minutes in.

2:58 p.m.

Let’s go, Canada!

Thousands of fans at the FIFA Fan Zone at the PNE Amphitheatre are chanting, cheering and ready to root their team to victory as players take to the field for the 3 p.m. match against Qatar – Canada’s first FIFA World Cup match at BC Place.

1:40 p.m.

Rasha Morelly, who was supporting both Canada and Qatar, was planning to head to Granville Street to watch the game. A Vancouver resident, she said she also has a Middle Eastern background.

“I couldn’t choose one team,” she told Black Press Media.

1:30 p.m.

With a Canadian flag flying proudly on a hockey stick at the front of the crowd, thousands of fans have made their way through downtown Vancouver towards Canada’s first FIFA World Cup match at BC Place.

Chants of ole ole ole ole mix with the singing of O Canada and the strains of When the Reds Go Marching In as Canadian fans show their support for the home team. The first marchers have now arrived at BC Place after a half-hour trail through downtown.

Canada faces Qatar at 3 p.m. Pacific in BC Place.

Fans began gathering near Science World around noon on Thursday, with the march beginning at 1 p.m.

Throngs of fans in red and white and bearing the Maple Leaf assembled to join the march, which headed along the “last mile” toward the fan zone and BC Place.

It’s the second FIFA World Cup game at BC Place and the first Canada match at the stadium.

Black Press Media has reporters on site in downtown Vancouver and at the Fan Zone at the PNE Amphitheatre. More to come.

See here for coverage of the Canada-Qatar game.