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Jonathan David and George Pakos are a generation apart in terms of World Cup appearances for sa¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½. But their aims are the same across the years — to grow the world’s game in a land of snow and ice.

David has done that with the current Canadian men’s ­soccer team, ending the 36-year drought since Pakos and the previous Canadian team to qualify.

“This is for the kids six-to-eight year olds. We’re working for the generations to come,” said David, the current standout Canadian team striker, who plays for Lille.

Pakos said the rise in ­Canadian soccer is already ­seeping down.

“Every juvenile soccer organization on the Island is full and loaded with kids now playing the game,” said Pakos, the ­Victoria product who scored two of ­sa¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½’s four goals in the final round of qualifying to propel the nation into its first World Cup in 1986 at Mexico.

“It’s been a long-time coming and I’m so happy the drought has ended.”

The final qualifying game for sa¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½, today in Panama (6 p.m. PT on Sportsnet), is all about the immediacy of seeding for World Cup 2022 in Qatar. sa¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½ is already qualified, but is now concentrating on getting into Pot 3 for the World Cup draw on Friday in Doha. sa¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½ needs a win tonight to stay out of Pot 4, which will mean having to play all three group games against higher-ranked teams. Pot 3 will mean playing two higher-ranked teams and one ranked lower. The out-of-country scoreboard yielded good results ­Tuesday with Ghana knocking off ­Nigeria, ranked one spot ahead of sa¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½ at world No. 33, during African qualifying. So a win against Panama will land sa¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½ into Pot 3. A draw or loss and sa¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½ goes into Pot 4.

It doesn’t matter, said Pakos, predicting big things for sa¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½ in World Cup 2022 Qatar, after his generation failed to win a game or score a goal in 1986 at Mexico.

“This Canadian team is ­talented enough that I believe it’s possible we can move on beyond the group stage, no matter who we play,” said Pakos.

Another Victoria product and sa¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½ team alumni concurs.

“This is a talented group that is very exciting to watch. They are so athletic and technical. They have a bit of everything,” said Martin Nash, who earned 38 caps for the national side and a CONCACAF Gold Cup ­ championship, and is now coach of York United in the CPL.

“It is a Canadian team that can cause some damage in the World Cup. They are not just going. They are going to compete. I believe they have the ability to get out of their group. This generation is really ­exciting.”

A draw tonight guarantees sa¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½ top spot in CONCACAF. sa¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½ can still top the pool with a loss and the right results in other games. But through the front door is the only way this group wants to enter Qatar.

“We said we were here to define a new sa¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½ and new sa¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½ is finishing top of ­CONCACAF … to really let this country celebrate,” said sa¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½ head coach John Herdman.

But a draw won’t get sa¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½ into Pot 3, so victory is the hard objective tonight against a ­Panamanian side desperately needing to win.

“We have to finish strong. That’s the message to these ­players. It’s a critical match,” said Herdman.

— With a file from the Canadian Press