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Thursday, February 4, 2016

2018 FIFA World Cup Russia Qualifiers Frienly: Rivals Canada and USA face each other Friday, February 5 on TSN

 4 February 2016 in Men's National Team
Old rivals Canada and USA will face each other on Friday night in a Men's International Friendly soccer match just outside Los Angeles. The match will be broadcast live in Canada on TSN 1,3 and 5 and RDS.
The match kicks off at 19.45 local from StubHub Center in Carson, CA, USA. The Canadian broadcast starts at 22.30 ET / 19.30 PT. Across the nation, viewing parties have been organised by Canadian supporters to root for #CanadaRED.
Always a big encounter, the two sides are currently in the midst of 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia Qualifiers which resume in late March. Friday’s match will be the last international test for both sides before match days 3 and 4 in the CONCACAF semi-final round. Canada currently sits in second place in Group A with four points after their first two matches and the USA is in first place in Group C with six points.
"Every day and every camp, for us, it is preparation for the next official game in FIFA World Cup Qualifiers," said Benito Floro, Canada Soccer's Men's National Team Head‎ Coach. "For our players, we want them to play well and to do the things to win the game, to develop those ideal situations."
This will be the first test against USA for Canada Soccer's Head Coach Benito Floro (all-time 7W-9D-7L in 23 international matches). In the two previous Canada-USA meetings before Floro's hiring, the two sides drew 0:0 in 2012 (in Toronto) and 2013 (in Houston).
Last year, Canada played 14 international matches, the most in a calendar year since 2000. Canada posted six wins, six draws, and two losses, with 18 goals scored and just six goals conceded.
USA, meanwhile, posted 10 wins, four draws, and six losses in 20 international matches in 2015. USA opened their 2016 international calendar with a 3:2 win over Iceland on 31 January.
Along with watching the match on TSN and RDS, Canadian fans are encouraged to follow the team via Twitter (@CanadaSoccerEN), Instagram (@CanadaSoccer) and Facebook (CanadaSoccer). There will be exclusive in-match updates across Canada's digital platforms, along with a full recap on CanadaSoccer.com.

MOMENTUM BULDING FOR MARCH 25th CANADA V MEXICO MATCH AT BC PLACE
Following the February match, Canada will face Mexico in a home-and-away round of Russia 2018 Qualifiers, with the March 25 match at BC Place in Vancouver, BC. With the lower bowl already sold out, Canadian supporters are starting to buy their seats to fill the upper bowl with #CanadaRED support.
Great seats are available in the upper bowl starting as low as $25 (plus applicable fees) and fans are encouraged to act fast to ensure they secure their place as a member of Canada’s 12th man. The popular ‘Me+3’ offer will remain available in select sections, available directly via Tickmaster.ca by selecting the ‘Me+3’ offer.
Group discounts will continue to be offered, with groups of 10 or more eligible to receive discounts of up to 30% off regular priced tickets.
For fans across the country, both the home March 25 match in Vancouver and the away March 29 match in Mexico will be broadcast on TSN in Canada.

 

Canada selects 23 players for USA friendly in February

Posted on 22 January 2016 in Men's National Team
Canada Soccer has confirmed 23 players that will wear #CanadaRED colours for the upcoming Men's International Friendly match against USA. Canada's Men's National Team players, selected by Head Coach Benito Floro, will begin travel to camp from their respective clubs on Monday 25 January 2016.
Canada will face CONCACAF neighbours USA in the Friday 5 February friendly at the StubHub Center in Carson, CA, USA, just south of Los Angeles (19.30 local). The international match will be broadcast live on TSN (22.30 ET / 19.30 PT).
The upcoming camp, which runs from 25 January to 6 February 2016, will continue Canada's preparations for the upcoming 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia Qualifiers. The Canadian squad features a mix of experience and youth, with most players drawn from clubs based in Canada and USA whose 2016 seasons have yet to begin.
"We need to continue to put forth our best defence, our best attack, and our best set pieces in 2016," said Benito Floro, Canada Soccer's Men's National Team Head Coach. "Last year, we scored 18 goals and conceded only six, but we could have scored more through the chances we created. We need to improve our last pass and our shots on target."
The international test will help Canada prepare for two upcoming FIFA World Cup Qualifiers against Mexico - at home on Friday 25 March and away on Tuesday 29 March.

OVER 30,000 FANS BOOKED FOR BC PLACE MATCH

Canada Soccer has confirmed that over 30,000 fans have booked their tickets to the upcoming home match at BC Place in Vancouver. With incredible demand to support #CanadaRED on the Road to Russia 2018, seating to BC Place's upper bowl went on sale last week.
The lower bowl is sold out with a limited number of club seats just released for sale. BC Place’s Club Seats offer fans a premium match day experience featuring exclusive entrances, in-seat service, larger comfortable seats, exclusive club lounges with a full-service private bar and heightened food offerings, all from some of the best views in the venue.
Great seats are available in the upper bowl starting as low as $25 (plus applicable fees) and fans are encouraged to act fast to ensure they secure their place as a member of Canada’s 12th man. The popular ‘Me+3’ offer will remain available in select sections, available directly via Tickmaster.ca (http://www.ticketmaster.ca/event/11004F828EFB62A3) by selecting the ‘Me+3’ offer.
Group discounts will continue to be offered, with groups of 10 or more eligible to receive discounts of up to 30% off regular priced tickets.

CANADA'S SQUAD AGAINST USA

Canada's Men's National Team first camp of the 2016 calendar year will feature four debutants - goalkeepers Tyson Farago and Callum Irving, centre back Steven Vitória, and midfielder Jamar Dixon. Goalkeepers Farago (24 years) and Irving (22) have previously featured in Canada's national youth program, while Vitória (29) and Dixon (26) are new to the program.
In goal, Farago and Irving are joined by Maxime Crépeau (21), incidentally the one other player in camp yet to make his international "A" debut. Crépeau, previously called by coach Floro in 2014 and 2015, was in goal last October when Canada's U-23 team came within a victory of qualifying for the Rio 2016 Olympics.
The two youngest players in the squad are teenagers Kianz Froese and Marco Bustos, both 19 and both professional players with Vancouver Whitecaps FC. Both players made their international debuts in 2015, as did Samuel Adekugbe (21), Tesho Akindele (23), Wandrille Lefèvre (27), and Mallan Roberts (23). While Tesho Akindele has quickly earned seven appearances, the other five plus Caleb Clarke (22) have only made one or two appearances apiece.
In terms of experience, Canadian record holder Julian de Guzman is the leader with 85 international appearances. Both de Guzman (2008) and Will Johnson (2013) are former Canadian Players of the Year, while Cyle Larin was the 2015 runner up (behind winner Atiba Hutchinson, one of several players unavailable because of club commitments in Europe as this match falls outside the international calendar).
In all, 11 of the 23 players ply their trade in Canada, with all five Canadian professional clubs represented. Vancouver Whitecaps FC are represented by Adekugbe, Bustos, and Froese; FC Edmonton are represented by Farago, Nik Ledgerwood, and Roberts; Toronto FC are represented by Johnson; Ottawa Fury FC are represented by de Guzman; and Impact Montréal are represented by Bekker, Crépeau, and Lefèvre.
CANADA
1- GK- Maxime Crépeau | CAN / Impact Montréal
2- FB- Nik Ledgerwood | CAN / FC Edmonton
3- FB- Samuel Adekugbe | CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps FC
4- CB- Doneil Henry | ENG / West Ham United
5- CB / M- Adam Straith | NOR / Fredrikstad FK
6- M- Julian de Guzman | CAN / Ottawa Fury FC
7- M- Iain Hume | Unattached
8- M- Will Johnson | CAN / Toronto FC
9- F- Cyle Larin | USA / Orlando City SC
10- M- Kyle Bekker | CAN / Impact Montréal
11- M- Issey Nakajima-Farran | MAS / Terengganu FA
12- CB- Wandrille Lefèvre | CAN / Impact Montréal
13- M- Jamar Dixon | FIN / FF Jaro
14- M- Marco Bustos | CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps FC
15- CB / FB- Steven Vitória | POR / Benfica
16- M- Kianz Froese | CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps FC
17- M- Marcel De Jong | USA / Sporting Kansas City
18- GK- Tyson Farago | CAN / FC Edmonton
19- F- Caleb Clarke | Unattached
20- FB / CB- Karl W. Ouimette | USA / New York Red Bulls
21- CB- Mallan Roberts | CAN / FC Edmonton
22- GK- Callum Irving | USA / University of Kentucky
23- F- Tesho Akindele | USA / FC Dallas
CANADA FROM A-Z
*Name, Age, City in which they grew up, First club/active start in soccer
Adekugbe, Samuel | 21 | Calgary, AB, CAN | Manchester United Grassroots
Akindele, Tesho | 23 | Thornton, CO, USA |
Bekker, Kyle | 25 | Oakville, ON, CAN | Oakville SC
Bustos, Marco | 19 | Winnipeg, MB, CAN | Garden City Community Center
Clarke, Caleb | 22 | Richmond, BC, CAN | Richmond SA
Crépeau, Maxime | 21 | Candiac, QC, CAN | Ligue de soccer pour enfants de Candiac
de Guzman, Julian | 34 | Scarborough, ON, CAN | Wexford SC
De Jong, Marcel | 29 | Valkenswaard, NED | De Valk
Dixon, Jamar | 26 | Ottawa, ON, CAN |
Farago, Tyson | 24 | Winnipeg, MB, CAN | RA Steen Community
Froese, Kianz | 19 | La Habana, CUB & Winnipeg, MB, CAN | Garden City Community Centre
Henry, Doneil | 22 | Brampton, ON, CAN | Ontario Youth Soccer
Hume, Iain | 32 | Brampton, ON, CAN | Rexdale
Irving, Callum | 22 | Vancouver, BC, CAN | Marpole SC
Johnson, Will | 29 | Toronto, ON, CAN & Chicago, IL, USA |
Larin, Cyle | 20 | Brampton, ON, CAN | Brampton Youth SC
Ledgerwood, Nik | 31 | Lethbridge, AB, CAN | Lethbridge Cosmos
Lefèvre, Wandrille | 27 | Chartres, FRA & Montréal, QC, CAN |
Nakajima-Farran, Issey | 31 | Tokyo, JPN & London, ENG |
Ouimette, Karl W. | 23 | Terrebonne, QC, CAN | CS Terrebonne
Roberts, Mallan | 23 | Freetown, SLE |
Straith, Adam | 25 | Victoria, BC, CAN | Bays United SC
Vitória, Steven | 29 | Toronto, ON, CAN |

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