Canada MNT announces roster for Austria trip

Canada Soccer has announced their 24-man squad for the upcoming Men’s International Friendly series in Austria against opponents Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan. The squad and camp continues coach Benito Floro’s preparations for the upcoming 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia Qualifiers in September, including the all-important final match of this semi-final round at BC Place in Vancouver on 6 September.

Both June matches will be broadcast live on migmultidev-canada-soccer.pantheonsite.io and youtube.com/canadasoccertv. The Canada-Azerbaijan match is Friday 3 June at 13.00 ET / 10.00 PT (19.00 local at Stadion Rohrbach an der Lafnitz in Rohrbach an der Lafnitz, AUT) while the Canada-Uzbekistan match is Tuesday 7 June at 10.00 ET / 07.00 PT (16.00 local at Thermenstadion Bad Waltersdorf in Bad Waltersdorf, AUT).

“We consider both matches will provide us with a very good test,” said Benito Floro, Canada Soccer’s Men’s National Team Head Coach. “The European camp is important because it gives us time to practice and create new structures for our team and their communication. With every camp, they can learn and practice positive methods that will help them in the games.”

With Canada’s next FIFA World Cup Qualifiers just three months away, coach Floro has recalled a largely similar squad featured throughout the CONCACAF semi final round. One exception is Atiba Hutchinson, who will use the offseason to recover and address a long-standing minor injury after leading the Turkish Süper Lig in minutes played en route to a first-place finish in the league standings.

Back in camp is young winger Michael Petrasso, who has just completed his first professional season with Queens Park Rangers. The Canadian U-20 Player of the Year is making his third appearance in a Men’s National Team camp.

SUPPORT #CANADARED, BE CANADA’S 12th MAN
After an away match against Honduras on 2 September, Canada will come home to face El Salvador in a critical match on 6 September at BC Place in Vancouver. To help build a sea of #CanadaRED supporters, tickets to the match start as low as $25 (plus applicable fees). In addition, a special ‘Me+3’ offer will be available for this match. When purchasing three full price tickets in select sections, fans will receive the fourth one free. This offer is available via Ticketmaster.ca by selecting the ‘Me+3’ offer.

Group discounts will be offered, with groups of 10 or more eligible to receive discounts of up to 30% off regularly priced sections. To request group tickets, complete the group order form indicating the price point and quantity of tickets you are wishing to purchase. Please note that group tickets will be processed on a first come, first served basis. For complete information visit the group ticket section on CanadaSoccer.com/Tickets

BC Place 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. Fans purchasing club seats will receive a complimentary Canada Soccer scarf (a retail value of $30) upon arrival to their seats on match day.

Canadian Supporters have been allocated a number of dedicated sections in the southwest end of BC Place. Fans wishing to sit in the Canadian supporter sections are encouraged to visit the Voyageurs website for more information and to purchase tickets through thevoyageurs.org. Please note that persistent standing will be permitted in these sections.

Visiting supporters will be located in the northeast corner of BC Place. Fans wishing to sit in these sections should select “El Salvador supporters” from the drop-down menu on the Ticketmaster event page.

Complete ticket information can be found at CanadaSoccer.com/Tickets.

ROAD TO THE 2018 FIFA WORLD CUP RUSSIA
The 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™ is the biggest single-sport event in the world. From 209 member associations from around the world, 32 finalists will qualify for the 32-day event that is played in 11 cities from 14 June to 15 July 2018.

Canada are amongst the 11 remaining CONCACAF nations in the hunt for a spot at the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™. The remaining nations are split into three groups for the continent’s 2015-2016 semi-final stage. The top-two nations in each group will advance to the final round in 2017, from which three nations qualify for Russia 2018 and the fourth team advances to an intercontinental playoff.

In CONCACAF’s semi-final (Round 4), Canada will play six matches, with both a home and away encounter against Honduras, El Salvador and Mexico. The stage concludes in September after Canada faces Honduras away and El Salvador at home.

CANADA
1- GK- Simon Thomas | NOR / FK Bodø/Glimt
2- FB- Nik Ledgerwood | CAN / FC Edmonton
3- CB- Manjrekar James | HUN / Diósgyöri VTK
4- CB- Dejan Jaković | JPN / Shimizu S-Pulse
5- CB- David Edgar | ENG / Birmingham City
6- M- Julian de Guzman | CAN / Ottawa Fury FC
7- M- Iain Hume | ESP / SD Ponferradina
8- M- Will Johnson | CAN / Toronto FC
9- F- Marcus Haber | ENG / Crewe Alexandra
10- M- David Junior Hoilett | ENG / Queens Park Rangers
11- M- Tosaint Ricketts | Unattached
12- CB- Doneil Henry | ENG / West Ham United
13- M- Michael Petrasso | ENG / Queens Park Rangers
14- M- Samuel Piette | ESP / Deportiva La Coruna
15- CB- Adam Straith | NOR / Fredrikstad FK
16- M- Scott Arfield | ENG / Burnley FC
17- FB- Marcel De Jong | CAN / Ottawa Fury FC
18- GK- Milan Borjan | BUL / PFK Ludogorets Razgrad
19- CB- Steven Vitória | POR / Benfica
20- CB / FB- Karl W. Ouimette | USA / New York Red Bulls
21- F- Cyle Larin | USA / Orlando City SC
22- GK- Kenny Stamatopoulos | SWE / AIK Fotbol
23- M- Tesho Akindele | USA / FC Dallas
24- F- Simeon Jackson | ENG / Blackburn Rovers
 

CANADA A-Z
Name, Age, City in which they grew up, Active start in soccer
Akindele, Tesho | 24 | Thornton, CO, USA | Mississauga
Arfield, Scott | 27 | Livingston, SCO |
Borjan, Milan | 28 | Hamilton, ON, CAN | Radnicki JP
de Guzman, Julian | 35 | Scarborough, ON, CAN | Wexford SC
De Jong, Marcel | 29 | Valkenswaard, NED | De Valk
Edgar, David | 29 | Kitchener, ON, CAN | Kitchener Minor SA
Haber, Marcus | 27 | Vancouver, BC, CAN | Dunbar SA
Henry, Doneil | 23 | Brampton, ON, CAN | Ontario Youth Soccer
Hoilett, David Junior | 26 | Brampton, ON, CAN | Mississauga SC
Hume, Iain | 32 | Brampton, ON, CAN | Rexdale
Jackson, Simeon | 29 | Mississauga, ON, CAN | Clarkson
Jaković, Dejan | 30 | Etobicoke, ON, CAN | Kingsview
James, Manjrekar | 22 | North York, ON, CAN | North York Azzuri
Johnson, Will | 29 | Toronto, ON, CAN & Chicago, IL, USA |
Larin, Cyle | 21 | Brampton, ON, CAN | Brampton Youth SC
Ledgerwood, Nik | 31 | Lethbridge, AB, CAN | Lethbridge Cosmos
Ouimette, Karl W. | 23 | Terrebonne, QC, CAN | CS Terrebonne
Petrasso, Michael | 20 | Woodbridge, ON, CAN | Kleinburg SC
Piette, Samuel | 21 | Le Gardeur, QC, CAN | Lionceaux de le Gardeur
Ricketts, Tosaint | 28 | Edmonton, AB, CAN | Edmonton Juventus
Stamatopoulos, Kenny | 36 | Markham, ON, CAN | Markham SC (Lightning)
Straith, Adam | 25 | Victoria, BC, CAN | Bays United SC
Thomas, Simon | 26 | Victoria, BC, CAN | Bays United SC
Vitória, Steven | 29 | Mississauga, ON, CAN | Sudbury Lions