McKenna, De Rosario set to join select group

Centre back Kevin McKenna has been named Canada’s captain for the upcoming FIFA World Cup Qualifiers™, with matches set to begin Friday 2 September in Toronto at BMO Field. Canada will face St. Lucia, Puerto Rico and St. Kitts and Nevis in CONCACAF Stage 2 from September to November 2011, with only the group winner allowed to proceed to CONCACAF Stage 3.



When the matches begin, McKenna and teammate Dwayne De Rosario will join a select group of national players that have participated in four cycles of FIFA World Cup Qualifiers™. That soon-to-be group of nine includes Paul Dolan, Dale Mitchell, Pat Onstad, Paul Peschisolido, Randy Samuel, Mike Sweeney and Mark Watson. Just Onstad, who only recently retired from active play, participated in five cycles.



McKenna and De Rosario both made their FIFA World Cup Qualifiers™ debut in 2000 under then-head coach Holger Osieck. A year later, they were both part of the squad for the FIFA Confederations Cup Korea-Japan 2001, Canada’s last participation in a FIFA senior men’s tournament. Now in 2011, the pair will guide Canada’s route towards the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™.



McKenna of Calgary, AB currently plays his football in Germany for FC Köln. He has made 53 career appearances for Canada. De Rosario of Scarborough, ON current plays his football in USA (Major League Soccer) for DC United. He has made 60 appearances for Canada.



COME ON CANADA: PAINT BMO FIELD RED





Fans can purchase tickets to the Friday FIFA World Cup Qualifiers match for as little as $20. Tickets are available via Ticketmaster (Ticketmaster.ca / 1-855-985-5000). It should also be noted that purchased tickets to the 2 September Canada match include free entrance to the Canadian National Exhibition (starting that morning at 10.00 ET). Without a ticket, fans that pay entrance to CNE can purchase a $25 match ticket for just $9 that evening (kick off at 20.00 ET).