Canada selects 23 players for USA friendly in February

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 |