The Canadian Soccer Association announced today that the kick off time for the Saturday 4 September Canada-Peru men’s international friendly has been changed to 17.30 ET from 19.30 ET. Tickets for the match went on sale to the public today at 10.00 ET through Ticketmaster (Ticketmaster.ca or 416.872.5000). Tickets for the Canada-Peru match, presented by Sony, start at $26 each.
With the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™ nearing its completion, the Canadian Soccer Association reported the results of an Ipsos Reid study that found 78% of Canadians agree that it is important for Canada to have a team at the 2014 FIFA World Cup™. Further to this, if Canada had a team in the FIFA World Cup™ 86% would cheer for their country first.
International soccer returns to Toronto as Canada hosts four-time World Cup™ participants Peru in an international men’s match on 4 September at BMO Field. Tickets to the upcoming Canada-Peru soccer friendly will go on sale to the public Monday 12 July at 10:00 a.m. EST through Ticketmaster (Ticketmaster.ca or 416.872.5000). The match, presented by Sony, will kick off at 17.30.
Canadian Soccer Association General Secretary Peter Montopoli visited the SOS Children’s village in Rustenburg, South Africa on Wednesday, June 16 where he is currently serving as a FIFA General Coordinator for Rustenburg’s World Cup venue. The Rustenburg village holds a particularly strong connection for the Canadian Soccer Association. In 2006 the Association, along with its membership, contributed nearly $100,000 to build CSA House in the village as part of the worldwide “6 villages for 2006” charity campaign for the 2006 FIFA World Cup. The SOS “Let’s Play, Let’s Build” campaign was the official charity of the FIFA U-20 World Cup Canada 2007 and during this event over $400,000 was raised for an outreach program run by SOS Children’s village Rustenburg (called the Family Strengthening Program). Montopoli, who served as the tournament director for the FIFA U-20 World Cup Canada 2007, is in South Africa in his role as a FIFA World Cup South Africa 2010 General Coordinator for Rustenburg’s Royal Bafokeng Stadium.
The FIFA World Cup has arrived in Africa. After years of preparation the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™ kicked off on Friday in Johannesburg. An elaborate ceremony, held in the Soccer City Stadium officially opened the month–long soccer celebration. The ceremony was followed by the opening match of the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™ in which host nation South Africa earned a 1:1 with Mexico in front of 90,000 fans. In the other match on day one of the competition France and Uruguay drew 0:0 at the beautiful Green Point Stadium in Cape Town.
The Soccer Hall of Fame held its 11th annual Induction Banquet on Saturday night at the Liberty Grand Entertainment Complex in Toronto, ON. Three players, two builders, one Pioneer Award winner, one Team of Distinction, and new for 2010, an Organization of Distinction were officially introduced as the Hall’s 11th Induction Class.
Dr. Walter Thomson was one of Canada’s earliest soccer stars. As a member of Canada’s first touring teams in the 1880’s he was cited as one of the most outstanding players of his generation and received rave reviews during his tours to Britan in 1888 and 1891.
Gordie Ion was a member of Canada’s first national team to participate in FIFA World Cup™ Qualifiers, doing so in 1957 for a pair of games against CONCACAF rivals USA (a 5:1 win in Toronto) and Mexico (an 0:3 loss in front of 75,000 spectators in Mexico). Ion is remembered as a skilful midfielder with a penchant for picking out open teammates.
A three-time FIFA Women’s World Cup participant, Silvana Burtini is one of the most decorated Canadian women’s national team players of all time.