Soccer interest continues to grow

Interest in the beautiful game continues to grow in Canada at both the national and international levels. Such interest has been noted in the ticket sales for the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™. With just eight weeks to go before the opening match, 16,000 tickets have been sold to Canadians who will travel more than 11,000 kilometres to attend this year’s competition. That is the highest total amongst all non-participating members for the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™.



At a press conference today in Toronto, ON, the Canadian Soccer Association outlined its men’s national team plans for the 2010 season. That schedule includes a pair of home games this September, one at BMO Field in Toronto on 4 September and another at Stade Saputo in Montréal on 7 September.



Amongst Canada’s six scheduled matches for 2010, two of them will be against 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™ participants. The key match will be the upcoming 24 May international friendly against two-time 2010 FIFA World Cup™ champion Argentina less than three weeks before this year’s South Africa competition.



“We must create the best opportunities for our men to gain international experience as they prepare for the next qualification process,” said Canadian Soccer Association President Dr. Dominic Maestracci. “Our goal as an association is a spot at the 2014 FIFA World Cup™ Brazil.”



In 2010, both the men’s and women’s national teams are scheduled to play multiple international matches in Canada, with the women’s schedule expected to be announced next month. Canada’s women’s national team is currently preparing for the 2010 CONCACAF Women’s Gold Cup which will take place in October or November. Two or three teams from CONCACAF will qualify for next year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup, an honour for which Canada has accomplished four times in the past.



Along with the international schedule, Canadians are also gearing up for the 2010 Nutrilite Canadian Championship. The three-team professional club competition runs 28 April to 2 June in Montréal, Toronto and Vancouver. The national champion qualifies for CONCACAF Champions League with the confederation champion then qualifying for the FIFA Club World Cup. Just last year, the six-match competition played to 92% capacity in the three Canadian venues.



As for this summer’s big competition, the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™ runs 11 June to 11 July 2010. FIFA Assistant Referee Héctor Vergara, who has been a member of the FIFA List of Referees and Assistant Referees since 1993, will be taking part in his third FIFA World Cup™. Canadian Soccer Association General Secretary Peter Montopoli, meanwhile, will be serving at his second FIFA World Cup™, this time as a FIFA General Coordinator in Rustenburg. Canadian Soccer Association Director of Communications Richard Scott will serve as one of the more than 50 FIFA Media Officers from around the world that will serve at South Africa 2010™.



In all, there will be 64 matches in 10 venues located in nine host cities. Along with the three million tickets expected to be purchased for the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™, an estimated 26 billion people from around the world will watch the 64 matches on television.



The Canadian Soccer Association, in partnership with its member and all its corporate partners, provides leadership in the pursuit of excellence in soccer, both at the national and international levels. The Canadian Soccer Association not only strives to lead Canada to victory, but it also encourages Canadians towards a life-long passion for soccer.