Canada will challenge Hungary in International Friendly

Canada’s Men’s National Soccer team will play its fifth match of 2006 in Budapest, Hungary



Ottawa, Ontario – The Canadian Soccer Association is proud to announce that Canada’s Men’s National soccer team will face Hungary in an International Friendly on November 15th, 2006 in Budapest. Hungary is currently ranked 59th by FIFA.



Canada’s last match up against Hungary dates back 20 years when both teams met in the 1986 World Cup in Mexico. Hungary won that game 2:0 played in Iraputo, Mexico.



Hungary’s most recent result comes off a 3:1 win versus Bosnia-Herzegovina on September 6th in UEFA EURO 2008 Preliminary Competition. Hungary has faired well recently, winning two of their last three international friendlies in 2006 with a 2:0 win against New Zealand on May 25th; a 3:0 loss to England on May 31st and most recently, a 2:1 victory against Austria on August 16th.



Canada has not allowed a goal in over a year!



Canada has been building momentum of its own and is currently undefeated in their last four friendlies. They have not allowed a goal since a 2:1 loss to Spain on September 3rd, 2005.



“We need to build on our positive results of late and continue to gel as a unit. The team has worked hard to get good results versus quality teams this year,” said Head Coach Stephen Hart “We will have to bring our best game forward against a solid Hungarian side if were to add to our unbeaten streak.”



Canada’s most recent results are a 1:0 win over Luxembourg in November of 2005, a 0:0 draw with the United States on January 22nd, 2006 in San Diego, California, a 2:0 win over Austria on March 1st, 2006 in Vienna, Austria and most recently, Canada beat Jamaica 1:0 on September 4th in Montréal.



Canada’s next match is set for October 8th, 2006 in Kingston, Jamaica for game two of their home-away series.



FIFA U-20 World Cup Canada 2007 – It’s gonna be huge



In 2007, the world’s biggest game is coming to Canada. Canada will host the World’s finest under-20 players in six cities across the country – Victoria, Burnaby, Edmonton, Toronto, Ottawa, and Montreal – June 30 – July 22, 2007.



The biennial event is second only to the FIFA World Cup™ in size and scope and will showcase the most talented under-20 soccer players in the world. The tournament has been the coming-out party for some of the game’s top players – Maradona, Saviola, Raúl, Marco Van Basten, Luis Figo, Ruiz Costa, Thierry Henry, Adriano, Roberto Carlos, Bebeto and Dunga as well as Canada’s Craig Forrest and many members of the current Men’s World Cup Team including Julian de Guzman, Paul Stalteri, Atiba Hutchinson and Iain Hume.



Last held in CONCACAF in 1983 in Mexico, Canada’s most recent participation in this event occurred last June in the Netherlands from June 10 – July 2, 2005.



Canada enjoyed its best ever finish in a World Championship in December 2003, losing to eventual silver medalist Spain on a golden goal in the quarter finals in the United Arab Emirates.



For more information regarding the FIFA U-20 World Cup Canada 2007, please visit www.FIFA.com.