For more information on Canada’s national team, please visit the FIFA World Cup™ Qualifiers section. Canada is the seventh-ranked country in CONCACAF in the latest FIFA/Coca-Cola World Rankings. Canada did not move up within CONCACAF, but its point total did climb from 415 to 434 points. USA (834 points) and Mexico (827) remain the top-two ranked countries in CONCACAF.
Canada’s Michelle Pye is one of five FIFA referees selected to remain in New Zealand for the closing stages of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup. Those stages feature the two semi-final matches in Christchurch on 13 November and both the final and match for third place in Auckland on 16 November.
Pye has been appointed to officiate the 13 November semi-final between England and Korea DPR. The match kicks off at 16.00 local time. The other semi-final match features USA and Germany.
Andrea Neil was honoured today at the annual In Her Footsteps…Celebrating BC Women in Sport reception. The recognition program and exhibit, which is housed at the BC Sports Hall of Fame and Museum in Vancouver, now honours 40 women, including 2008 honourees Tricia Smith (rowing) and Roberta Ann Steen (coach, volunteer, administrator).
Andrea Neil was a long-time member of Canada’s national team, representing her country at four FIFA Women’s World Cups. She retired in 2007 as the country’s all-time leader in appearances (132). She also enjoyed a long career with the Vancouver Breakers/Whitecaps and won W-League championships in 2004 and 2006.
Who will be honoured with the title of FIFA World Player and FIFA Women’s World Player for 2008? FIFA has today announced the names of the nominees (see below) and the final decision will be made by the captains and head coaches of the men’s and women’s national teams.
At the beginning of December, FIFA will announce the names of the three men and women who have received the most votes and the winners will be revealed at the 18th FIFA World Player Gala at the Zurich Opera House on 12 January 2009.
Soccer in Canada is heading in a new direction. With the development of its Strategic Plan and Strategic Activities documents, the Canadian Soccer Association has taken the first steps in achieving specific milestones for the sport over the next five years. To achieve those milestones, the Association has identified key priorities that will help Canadian soccer prosper both at the national and international levels.
The Strategic Plan and Strategic Activities (2009-2013) have been published online at CanadaSoccer.com (www.CanadaSoccer.com/strategic/strategicplan.asp). Both documents are very much the starting points to a coordinated approach to soccer’s future in Canada.
The Canadian Soccer Association announced today that it has appointed Tony Fonseca to the men’s national staff coaching position. Mr. Fonseca’s coaching responsibilities in the technical and national-team area will include the men’s national youth teams up to the U-20 level, the national-training centres, scouting duties and the Association’s coaching development courses.
“We are very pleased that Mr. Fonseca has accepted the position to join our team,” said Canadian Soccer Association technical director Stephen Hart. “Having had the opportunity to work with Tony on the Canadian senior team, I am well aware of his qualities, both on and off the field. I am confident that Tony will be influential within the Association’s coaching and player-development structure as we progress.”
For more information on this match, please visit the following fixture link.
Canada put forth an inspired performance tonight in a 2:2 draw with Mexico. The draw was played in front of Canada’s home crowd at Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton, AB. In doing so, Canada played the role of spoiler, pushing back Mexico’s potential qualification to the next round by another month. Mexico remains in first place in the group, but still needs at least one point to qualify to the CONCACAF final round.
Mexico has 10 points after five matches, but has collected just one point in its last two matches. Mexico leads Group 2 ahead of Honduras (9 points), Jamaica (7 points) and Canada (2 points). Jamaica jumped up in the standings tonight with a 1:0 victory over Honduras.
For more information on this match, please visit the following fixture link.
Canada made its final on-field preparations tonight at Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton, AB. Canada faces Mexico tomorrow night on match-day five of the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™ Qualifiers. The Canadian team will be playing for pride after its elimination on 11 October against Honduras. The Canada-Mexico match kicks off at 19.00 MT.
Tickets to the home match are available via Ticketmaster at ticketmaster.ca or 780.451.8000. For fans unable to make it to Edmonton, the match can also be watched live on Sportsnet Pacific and Sportsnet West (for viewers with all four Sportsnet channels).
For more information on this match, please visit the following fixture link.
It may have been a little colder than Sunrise and San Pedro Sula, but Canada was in full gear today for its practice session at Foote Field in Edmonton, AB. After a full day’s travel from Honduras to Canada, coach Dale Mitchell organized the afternoon recovery session in preparation of Wednesday’s match against Mexico. This Wednesday 15 October will be match day five in CONCACAF Stage III of the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ South Africa Qualifiers.
Tickets to the home match are available via Ticketmaster at ticketmaster.ca or 780.451.8000. The match will be played at Commonwealth Stadium. For fans unable to make it to Edmonton, the match can also be watched live on Sportsnet Pacific and Sportsnet West (for viewers with all four Sportsnet channels).