Canada Soccer calls off National Teams activity for November 2020

In consultation with health and medical experts from both Canada Soccer and the Government of Canada, Canada Soccer have confirmed that its National Teams will not take part in international matches through the upcoming FIFA windows in November 2020. Canada Soccer remains hopeful that global health and travel measures may improve so that its best players can safely reunite for future international soccer windows.

Guided by the leadership from Canada Soccer’s Sports Medicine Committee, Canada Soccer continues to prioritize the health and safety for all of its players, staff and officials before any international travel. Canada Soccer will continue to closely monitor all COVID-19 developments in consultation with the Public Health Agency of Canada.

Following discussions by Concacaf and FIFA, the Concacaf Qualifiers for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ have already been postponed from October and November 2020 until the March 2021 FIFA international window.

Looking ahead to 2021, Canada Soccer’s Men’s National Team is scheduled to play in FIFA World Cup Qualifiers during back-to-back international windows 22-30 March 2021 and then early June 2021, followed by the 2021 Concacaf Gold Cup in July. Should Canada advance to Concacaf’s Final Round of eight nations in FIFA World Cup Qualifiers, they would have additional competitive matches next year during the September, October and November 2021 windows.

Canada Soccer’s Women’s National Team, meanwhile, recently canceled a potential away Women’s International Friendly match that was scheduled for October 2020 due to safety concerns. With continued global disruptions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, the Women’s National Team will also not take part in any international matches during the next FIFA window from 23 November to 1 December.

Canada Soccer’s Women’s National Team has already qualified for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, which have been postponed until July and August 2021. Ahead of the Olympic Games, the next official FIFA windows for international matches are 15-24 February, 5-13 April, and 7-16 June.