Canada trains in Florida

For more information on this match, please visit the following fixture link.



Canada’s men’s national team is continuing its preparations in Sunrise, FL this week under the watchful eye of head coach Dale Mitchell. Since Saturday night’s match against Brazil, two new players have come in as previously scheduled. Jim Brennan and Ali Gerba have both joined the lineup before the friendly against Panama this Wednesday.



Canada is currently preparing for this month’s 2010 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers™ against Saint Vincent & the Grenadines. The Canucks must win its two-match set in June to advance to Stage III (August to November). Canada plays on the road on 15 June (Kingstown) and at home on 20 June (Stade Saputo in Montréal – admission.com or 514.790.1245).



Canada will play Panama at the Sunrise Holiday Inn soccer field (the match kicks off at 17.00 ET). Both sides were originally scheduled to meet in Panama City, but they moved the match as both sides were already in North America. There is no television coverage of the game.



Shortly after the Canada-Panama match, coach Mitchell will name his 18-player roster for the Saint Vincent & the Grenadines series. Canada will take a couple of days off after the Canada-Panama match before regrouping.



Canada has an all-time record of two wins and two draws against Panama’s senior team, all in FIFA World Cup Qualifiers™. Canada last faced Panama, though, in 2000. The 4 June match will be played at the Holiday Inn Sunrise.



Canada’s men’s national team is looking to get back to the FIFA World Cup™ for the first time since 1986. From within CONCACAF, three or four teams (out of 35 total or 24 remaining) will represent the confederation at South Africa 2010. The Canadian men are currently ranked fourth in CONCACAF based on the most recent FIFA/Coca-Cola World Rankings. Canada also had a top-four finish at last year’s CONCACAF Gold Cup by reaching the semi-final.