Moment 9: Canada wins first CONCACAF women’s title

Canada won its first of two CONCACAF women’s championships on 6 September 1998 with a 1:0 win over Mexico in Etobicoke, ON. Having already qualified for the FIFA Women’s World Cup USA 1999 two days earlier, Canada completed the competition with a perfect 5-0 record and a new trophy for the showcase. The match was played in front of a sold-out crowd of 4,971 fans at Centennial Stadium.

Moment 9: Canada wins 1998 CONCACAF Women’s Championship

This marked the second time that Canada qualified for a FIFA Women’s World Cup, a string that will reach six consecutive appearances in 2015 when Canada hosts the next edition in six cities from coast to coast. Back in 1998, the stars of the Canadian team included Charmaine Hooper, Silvana Burtini and Amy Walsh, while goalkeeper Nicole Wright posted five clean sheets as the woman in goal. Also of note, the tournament featured out-going legend Geraldine Donnelly (who left international football after USA 1999) and rookie Karina LeBlanc (who as a teenager was the back-up goalkeeper to Wright).

The Canadian Soccer Association celebrates its 100th anniversary throughout the 2012 calendar year. While soccer (football) has been played in Canada since 1876, the Canadian Soccer Association (or the Dominion of Canada Football Association as it was known in the day) was inaugurated on 24 May 1912. As part of the centennial celebrations, the Canadian Soccer Association will unveil the “Top-10 Moments” in Canadian soccer history as well as engage soccer fans to select the “All-Time Canada XI” teams for men’s and women’s football. The celebrations will culminate with Canada’s two Centennial Matches – a Women’s International Friendly on 30 May in Moncton and a Men’s International Friendly match on 3 June in Toronto.

Tickets to Canada’s 3 June Centennial home match – as well three FIFA World Cup Qualifiers in June, September and October – are available via Ticketmaster (ticketmaster.ca / 1.855.570.7500) with full details at CanadaSoccer.com/seetheerise. Also to celebrate Canada’s 100th anniversary, Canada’s men’s and women’s national teams will wear a special blue Centennial Kit tailored by Umbro. The kit will be worn exclusively by the men on 3 June and by the women for a second Centennial match on 30 June at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy, UT, USA. Limited quantities of Canada’s Centennial clothing line – including jersey, anthem jacket and cap – are available exclusively at CanadaSoccer.com.