News
Men's National Team July 17, 2017

Canada will face Jamaica in Thursday quarter-finals at CONCACAF Gold Cup

Canada v Jamaica on 20 July

Undefeated Canada will face Jamaica in the quarter-finals of the 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup. Canada Soccer’s Men’s National Team have reached the knock out phase after finishing second in Group A after a 4:2 win over French Guiana, a 1:1 draw with Costa Rica, and an 0:0 draw with Honduras.

The Canada-Jamaica match on Thursday 20 July takes place at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, AZ. The match kicks off at 16.30 local, with a live broadcast on TSN and RDS (19.30 ET / 16.30 PT). Fans are encouraged to follow the Men’s National Team across all of Canada Soccer’s digital channels including Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, YouTube, and Facebook.

“We have grown as a group and as a team we have been able to bring into the game certain aspects that we like,” said Octavio Zambrano, Canada Soccer’s Men’s National Team Head Coach. “All in all, it has been a steady progression. Mentally, we believe that we can do this.”

Like Canada, Jamaica have posted one win and two draws at the 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup to finish second place in their group. In eight international matches this year, Jamaica have posted a record of two wins, three draws, and three losses, with their wins coming against Honduras in February and Curaçao in July. Just two years ago, Jamaica reached the final of the 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup.

Canada are undefeated in 2017 with three wins and three draws. In 23 international matches since the last CONCACAF Gold Cup in 2015, Canada’s overall record is 10 wins, seven draws, and six losses. With an average age of 26 years and 17 players on the current 23 player roster having experience with Canada Soccer’s National Men’s Youth Program, the combination of youth and veterans in the CONCACAF Gold Cup has paid dividends not only on the pitch but in the development pathway for some of Canada’s top young talent.

“The players have convinced themselves that they can play against anybody and hold their own,” said Zambrano. “When that happens, then anything is possible. If there has been one thing that has shifted, it is the realisation of how much they can truly achieve if they convince themselves that they can do it.”

CONCACAF GOLD CUP
 The CONCACAF Gold Cup is the official national team championship of the confederation. From 12 nations, the eight teams that play in the 19 and 20 July quarter-finals are: Costa Rica and Panama; USA and Honduras; Canada and Jamaica; Mexico and El Salvador. From that round, four nations will play in the semi-finals on 22 and 23 July and then the top two teams will face each other in the final on Wednesday 26 July.

Canada are two-time CONCACAF champions, having won the CONCACAF Championship in 1985 and the CONCACAF Gold Cup 2000. Since the first edition of the CONCACAF Gold Cup in 1991, Canada’s best finishes are first place in 2000 and semi-final finishes in 2002 and 2007.

CANADA IN TORONTO ON 2 SEPTEMBER
 Following the 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup, Canada Soccer’s Men’s National Team will return to Toronto to face CONCACAF rivals Jamaica on Saturday 2 September. Tickets to the Men’s International Friendly match start as low as $20 (plus applicable fees) and can be purchased online via Ticketmaster.ca, by phone at 1.855.985.5000, or in person at the BMO Field Box Office. As the match takes place during the Canadian National Exhibition (CNE), all match tickets include free admission to the CNE grounds on match day. The 2 September match kicks off at 19.00 ET with complete ticket details at migmultidev-canada-soccer.pantheonsite.io/tickets.