On a much more peaceful note, friend of the blog Ben Rycroft announced earlier today on CBC.ca that Canada will host the USA in a friendly in June of this year to mark the Canadian Soccer Association centenary, as well as warm up for the third round of CONCACAF World Cup Qualifying:
The official date and location will be announced Thursday in Toronto when the CSA launches a new jersey to mark the centennial occasion and confirms the host cities for men’s and women’s games this year.
For a soccer federation that would struggle to find much to hang its hat on from the last 100 years, this is a refreshingly well thought out decision.
I agree. Historically it’s a well-informed choice, as the two nations first played each other as full internationals in 1885, one-of-if-not-the first pair of nations to do so outside Great Britain. Plus there are the attendant bragging rights, and something for Stephen Hart to build toward in the coming months.
Looking forward to it…
A game in Montreal would be great, I hope they don’t schedule all the games in Toronto again.
Spread them out – Moncton (I’d love to say Halifax, but you need a field first!) to Vancouver.
Men or Women, I’d go to a match in Moncton (a few hours away) if it were offered.
SB
Agreed, I would gladly travel another 5+ hours to see the Reds again, if all the WC Qualifiers are going to be in Toronto, why not have the friendly somewhere else? BC Place???
Unfortunately BC Place does not have grass and that makes the game more expensive for player insurance. I am sure Vancouver could do a good job considering how close Seattle is and how long it has been since Seattle has seen their national team.
Lack of direct flights from player locations hurts as well but the pitch is the problem.