The report says the sword emerged during the qualifying campaign for Qatar 2022, when Canada was attempting to shed its reputation as an overly cautious side. Before home matches, the captain or an interim leader would address the squad before planting the blade into the turf - a declaration that the field belonged to Canada the following day.
Atiba Hutchinson, then captain, reportedly questioned the ritual at first when the team played away. The compromise was simple: the sword would only be driven into Canada’s own pitch, avoiding any suggestion of disrespect toward rival nations or historic stadiums.
The blade carried a Latin message meaning “fear nothing”, while the wider ritual centred on brotherhood, readiness and collective belief.
The sword was part of a broader package of symbols, including a shield, a helmet and medals marking milestones in the campaign. The report says the objects helped turn qualification from an abstract ambition into a shared story.
Herdman’s football legacy is similarly layered. He helped Canada return to the men’s World Cup after a 36-year absence and left many of the current squad with tournament experience. Yet his time in charge was also followed by scrutiny surrounding Canada Soccer’s culture and a disciplinary warning over unspecified misconduct.
That tension explains why the sword remains more than a novelty. It represents both the confidence Herdman helped build and the theatrical methods that divided opinion.
The sword is reportedly stored safely, ready to return if the team decides it needs the ritual again. Against South Africa, the real test will be whether Canada can reproduce the aggression and unity the object was designed to inspire - with or without the blade on the pitch.