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Toronto FC and Vancouver Whitecaps FC Emerge Victorious in TELUS Canadian Championship Semi-Final Matchups Toronto FC and Vancouver Whitecaps FC have secured their spots in the […]
Toronto FC and Vancouver Whitecaps FC have secured their spots in the 2024 TELUS Canadian Championship final after overcoming their Canadian Premier League opponents Forge FC and Pacific FC in the semifinal series on Tuesday evening. The MLS teams will face off on 25 September at 19.00 PT / 22.00 ET at Vancouver’s BC Place for the Voyageurs Cup, with the winner also earning a spot in the 2025 Concacaf Champions Cup.
Toronto FC advanced by edging out Forge FC with a 1-0 win at BMO Field, securing their place on the away goals tiebreaker after the aggregate score ended 2-2. Lorenzo Insigne scored the decisive goal in the 50th minute, converting a cross from fellow Italian Federico Bernardeschi past Forge goalkeeper Jassem Koleilat. Insigne’s goal leveled the aggregate score after Forge FC’s 2-1 win in the first leg, which featured an important late away goal by Toronto’s Prince Owusu.
Toronto FC, who hold a record eight Canadian Championship titles, are looking to claim their first since 2020.
Vancouver Whitecaps FC reached the final by defeating Pacific FC with a 1-0 victory at BC Place, completing a 2-0 aggregate win. Ryan Gauld, fresh off a Scotland call-up, scored the lone goal in the 11th minute, capitalizing on a rebound. This result mirrored their first-leg win at Starlight Stadium, where Gauld also scored the only goal.
Under head coach Vanni Sartini, Vancouver is aiming for their third consecutive Voyageurs Cup, having won the Canadian Championship in 2022 and 2023.
Drawn into Group B with France, Brazil, and Fiji, Canada’s tournament began on Saturday, 31 August against a formidable French side. A thrilling 3-3 draw set the tone for an exhilarating group stage as Canada looked to progress to the knockout round in a U-20 Women’s World Cup for the first time since 2014. Led by Liverpool Forward, Olivia Smith and Notre Dame Forward, Annabelle Chukwu, Canada’s prolific attack will be leaned on as they look to make a deep run in the tournament. The U-20 Women’s World Cup will conclude in late September, with the final slated for 22 September in Bogotá, Colombia.
As the CANMNT prepared to reunite after historic 2024 Copa América run, new exciting faces would be called to the national team for the first time ahead of matches against Concacaf rivals USA and Mexico.
Niko Sigur, born in Burnaby and eligible for Croatia, is an experienced 20-year-old who recently committed to Canada through a FIFA-approved one-time switch. Playing club football in Croatia for six-time Croatian First League winners Hadjuk Split, Sigur is nearing his 50th cap for the senior team and is a versatile player who has played in multiple positions across the midfield and defense.
Stephen Afrifa, born in Toronto and eligible for Ghana, is a 23-year-old winger having a breakout season in the MLS. Playing club football in the US for two-time MLS Cup champions Sporting KC, Afrifa has scored in all three competitions this season (MLS, Open Cup, Leagues Cup) and can play on either side of the pitch.
Additionally, Nathan Saliba of CF Montréal was called in to replace the injured Sam Adekugbe. Saliba was born in Longueuil, QC and is eligible for Haiti through both of his parents. The midfielder has become a regular in the first team, having made 18 appearances this season in MLS at just 20 years of age. Saliba had previously represented Canada at the U15 level in 2019.
A group of 28 coaches representing eight provinces and territories participated in the Portuguese Football Federation’s Level 1 Futsal Coaching Licence in partnership with the PFF and Futsal Canada. The workshop was delivered in Lisbon, Portugal from 6-19 May 2024 and overseen by world renowned futsal coach, Jorge Braz, who was recently named the winner of the Best Men’s National Team Coach in the World for the fifth consecutive year. Portuguese superstar and 2022 Futsal Planet Men’s Player of the Year, Pany Varela, also came in to speak with the coaches and share his experiences. Coaches followed the in class and on court, futsal-specific, training from the PFF’s UEFA C Futsal Licence and were welcomed as guests to gain insight into the passionate culture and high quality of futsal in Portugal by observing exciting playoff matches from the Portuguese Men’s league (Liga Placard), Women’s league (Liga Feminina Placard), and youth matches.
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