Canada wins at home to close out international weekend

Canada closed out a two-match international homestand with a 2:1 victory over Honduras on Tuesday night in Montréal. The victory was played in front of 7,525 fans at Stade Saputo – the largest crowd for a Men’s International Friendly match in Montréal.



Canada’s two-match international series was part of its early preparations for the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™. Around the world, some 67 international matches were played by national “A” squads in the five-day period from 3-7 September. Canada lost 0:2 to Peru in Toronto on 4 September. Canada’s next match on the FIFA International schedule is 8 October against Ukraine in Kyev.



At BMO Field in Toronto, there were 10,619 fans on Saturday 4 September, the highest total for a Men’s International Friendly match in Canada in 13 years (incidentally, the highest since Paul Stalteri’s debut back on 17 August 1997). In fact, the Toronto 4 September attendance was greater than 16 of the 22 European Qualification attendances one night earlier on 3 September.



From a historical perspective, since 2008, Canada’s average attendance for six home men’s matches (Qualifier and Friendly matches) is 13,017. By comparison, its average attendance in 14 previous home men’s matches from 2000 to 2007 was 8,199. This reflects more than a 50% increase in average attendance for Canadian home matches.



“There is a desire for Canada to do everything it can to reach the FIFA World Cup™,” said national head coach Stephen Hart. “We have asked the Association to provide us with these matches and they have put their best foot forward. The fans now have to do their part to support us to get there.”



This summer, an Ipsos Reid study found that 78% of Canadians felt that it is important for Canada to qualify for the 2014 FIFA World Cup™. Further to this, the poll found that 86% of Canadians – regardless of their family heritage – would cheer for Canada first.



The next round of FIFA World Cup Qualifiers™ is expected to begin in 2012. Before that, there is the biennial CONCACAF Gold Cup which runs 5-25 June 2011. The 2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup serves as the qualification route for the FIFA Confederations Cup Brazil 2013.



Coach Hart hopes to line up as many matches as possible on the available FIFA International Dates. He would also like to continue to play against high-quality teams that will provide a test for the Canadian team before the competitive matches start to count in 2011, 2012 and 2013. Already this year, Canada has played against three South American nations – Peru, Venezuela and two-time FIFA World Cup™ champion Argentina. The team has also played two CONCACAF nations: Jamaica and 2010 FIFA World Cup™ participant Honduras.



Canada’s national team features elite athletes from professional clubs in North America and Europe. This season, coach Hart has featured 43 different players in his first year en route to the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™. Coach Hart hopes to rely on two to three players per position and that each of his players are playing on a regular basis with their professional clubs.