Canada-Brazil match to be broadcast on Rogers Sportsnet

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



Listen to coach Dale Mitchell



Canada faces Brazil in a marquee matchup this Saturday 31 May at Qwest Field in Seattle, WA (19.30 PT). The match will be broadcast on Sunday morning on all four Rogers Sportsnet stations. Broadcast times are 10.00 ET on RSN East and RSN Ontario, 10.00 MT on RSN West, and 10.00 PT on RSN Pacific.



Canada’s men’s national team is currently preparing for Stage II of the 2010 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers™ South Africa which take place this June. Canada will face Saint Vincent & the Grenadines on the road in Kingstown on 15 June and then at home in Montréal on 20 June (Stade Saputo, tickets admission.com or 514.790.1245).



Brazil, the world’s number-two ranked country, is also preparing for South Africa 2010. Brazil will be fielding a talented lineup in preparations for its June qualifiers against Argentina and Paraguay (Brazil plays in a different confederation). Brazil is currently on a two-match tour in the United States with friendly invitations against Canada (31 May in Seattle) and Venezuela (6 June in Boston).



Canada’s men’s national team last faced Brazil at the FIFA Confederations Cup Japan 2001 (a 0:0 draw). Canada’s current roster not only includes Canadian player of the year Dwayne De Rosario and captain Paul Stalteri – two players that faced Brazil in 2001 – but also CanadaSoccer.com Fans’ Choices Julian de Guzman (2007) and Atiba Hutchinson (2006). In June, Canada needs to win its two-match set against Saint Vincent & the Grenadines in June to advance to Stage III within the confederation (the CONCACAF semi-finals which run August to November).



Incidentally, this is one of two senior Canadian matchups against Brazil this year. On 10 July, Canada’s women’s national team will host Brazil in Toronto for its debut at BMO Field (ticketmaster.ca or 416.872.5000).



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.