Canada Soccer News

Sophie Schmidt and Steven Vitória were named Canada Soccer’s Players of the Month for August 2022. Midfielder Schmidt helped Houston Dash move up into second place in the 2022 NWSL standings while centre back Vitória has GD Chaves tied for fifth place in Portugal’s Primeira Liga after the first month of the 2022-23 season. Schmidt, who was also called into Canada Soccer’s Women’s National Team camp at the end of the month, had a goal and an assist in five NWSL matches as Houston posted two wins, two draws and a loss. She scored the opening goal of a 2:2 home draw with Washington Spirit on 27 August. With 29 points in the league table, Houston are just two points back of league leaders San Diego Wave FC.

Vitória has played every minute of the 2022-23 season with his new side GD Chaves in Portugal. Wearing the captain’s armband, he scored the opening goal on a header from a João Batxi free kick in a 2:0 away win over Sporting CP on Saturday 27 August. With seven points from two wins, a draw and a loss, GD Chaves are also just two points back of last year’s winners FC Porto in third place.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2022 AUSTRALIA 0 v 1 CANADA

SUNCORP STADIUM, BRISBANE, QUEENSLAND ATTENDANCE 25,016

Canada Soccer’s Women’s National Team beat Australia 1:0 Saturday at Brisbane Football Stadium in Australia. The match was filled with exciting moments, including a record-tying appearance by captain Christine Sinclair and a wonderous goal from forward Adriana Leon.

The win closes out match one of a two-match friendly between Canada and Australia that has seen heavy squad rotation and tactical growth from the Canadian side. “I was most pleased with our commitment, our togetherness, and the will to do whatever it takes to win,” said Bev Priestman, Canada Soccer’s Women’s National Team Head Coach. “I couldn’t be more proud because, whatever they faced, whether it be travel delays, injuries to squad and all those sorts of things, but when the whistle went, they got down to business and they delivered. That makes me really proud.” Canada got off to a blistering start when Leon put Canada 1-0 up in the 12th minute. A cleared freekick from Australia fell to Bianca St-Georges who played a pass to Jordyn Huitema on the right side of the 18-yard box. Huitema laid the ball back to Leon who took a touch and fired a shot into the top left corner. Sinclair set a milestone by making her 316th career international “A” appearance, tying USWNT player Carli Lloyd for second place in the world’s all-time appearance list. Sinclair now sits 38 appearances behind former USWNT Kristine Lilly who made 354 appearances across a 24-year career. Coming into the match, Canada Head Coach Bev Priestman planned to rotate the squad to better evaluate different players and grow the team tactically. Simi Awujo and Clarissa Larisey made their international debuts when they were subbed in for Leon and Nichelle Prince in the 75th minute.

The debutants made significant impacts when they entered the match. Awujo, who Priestman spoke highly of in a press conference last month, skipped past several Australian players in the attacking third before threading a pass between two Australian defenders for Cloé Lacasse who beat the keeper but couldn’t put it past the post. Canada was also very good in and out of possession. The team was often very composed and patient on the ball in their own half, looking to exploit the gaps in Australia’s defence. Canada also looked to play quick one-touch passes out of difficult areas whenever Australia would press. The sudden change in tempo made it difficult for Australia to win the ball back. When out of possession, Canada hunted for the ball back–covering large amounts of distance and surrounding Australia players with red shirts. This often forced Australia to lose possession or play a negative pass back to their defensive third. Tactical performance is something that Priestman said she wants her team to continue to grow and work on.

TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 6, 2022 AUSTRALIA 1 v 2 CANADA

ALLIANZ STADIUM, SYDNEY, NEW SOUTH WALES ATTENDANCE 26,997

A pair of Adriana Leon goals helped Canada Soccer’s Women’s National Team come from behind to win 2:1 over Australia at the new Allianz Stadium in Sydney. The victory gave Canada back-to-back away wins during the September 2022 international window as they begin their one-year journey to the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023. Leon now ranks sixth all-time on Canada’s goalscoring list while captain Christine Sinclair moved into second place on the world’s all-time list with 317 international “A” appearances. Down 1-0 after three minutes on the Mary Fowler opener, Sinclair set up the equaliser in the 48th minute before 19-year old centre back Jade Rose set up the game winner in the 64th minute. “No spots are given and going into a FIFA World Cup I think that’s a healthy place to be, everyone is going to give you more,“ said Bev Priestman, Canada Soccer’s Women’s National Team Head Coach. “More than anything I’ve come away with a new shape and new players in that shape. Being able to change and to rotate players in different positions means freshness across the pitch which is an element we aim to achieve.”

Canada started the trip with a 1:0 victory over Australia on Saturday afternoon in Brisbane, with Leon again the goalscorer and goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan registering the clean sheet. Across 13 international matches this season, Canada have posted a record of eight wins, three draws and just two losses. With her two goals on Tuesday, Leon now has 27 career international “A” goals. Australia opened the scoring in the third minute on a quick play after a turnover. Sam Kerr on the right took a pass from Courtney Vine and then centered it back for Fowler who fired a low shot past Sheridan for the 1-0 lead. That was the only goal scored in the first half, but fans were on the edge of their seats in the 11th minute when both teams were called offside on back-to-back near breakaways for Kerr and Leon. Australia remained on the front foot for much of the half and Caitlin Foord thought she had a chance in the 42nd minute, but she missed the target with a shot to the near side. On another nice combination, Kerr nearly broke through on a Katrina Gorry pass, but Rose was there to knock it out. Canada then equalised early in the second half on Leon’s first of two goals. Beckie and Prince were part of the build up on the left before Leon played it to Sinclair who’s first cross was blocked by defender Clare Polkinghorne. Sinclair quickly had a second chance on her cross and Leon got inside the six-yard box to redirect it past goalkeeper Lydia Williams. With Rose continuing her strong play at the back, she nearly put Nichelle Prince through on a breakaway in the 53rd minute, but Prince was just offside. Just over 10 minutes later, Rose made it perfect with a through pass from the halfway line that put Leon in for a breakaway. The goalscorer made no mistake with her left foot for her third goal in two matches. Australia were able to settle things down and pushed forward for an equaliser, but the Canada defence held strong for the rest of the match. Australia nearly had a chance in the 90th minute when the ball spilled through to Alex Chidiac, but Quinn was there to clear the chance.

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 23, 2022 CANADA 2 v 0 QATAR

GENERALI ARENA, VIENNA, AUSTRIA ATTENDANCE ?????

Canada Soccer’s Men’s National team defeated Qatar 2:0 in its first friendly of the international break. The match marked the first time ever that Canada faced Qatar at the international “A” level, with Qatar the hosts for the coming FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ and Canada the co-hosts for the FIFA World Cup 2026™. “You can see that there is a joy of being back together, an excitement to get out there and play,” said John Herdman, Canada Soccer’s Men’s National Team Head Coach. “They looked like they were having fun out there.” Cyle Larin and Jonathan David did the scoring in the first half while Alistair Johnston earned Gatorade Performance of the Match. Milan Borjan posted his sixth clean sheet of the season, a new personal best and just one off the Men’s National Team record. He also featured in his 66th career international appearance, a new record for Men’s National Team goalkeepers. Canada largely dominated the match, controlling possession and keeping Qatar pinned in their half. It didn’t take long for Canada to open the scoring when Cyle Larin headed home a Sam Adekugbe cross in the fourth minute. Jonathan David skipped past two Qatar midfielders before playing a pass into the feet of Alphonso Davies at the top of the 18-yard box. Davies sent it wide to Adekugbe, who delivered a left-footed cross to Larin who put it passed the keeper. Less than 10 minutes later, Jonathan David put Canada up by two when Kamal Miller whipped in a cross that was punched out by Qatar’s keeper Saad Abdulla M E Alsheeb. The ball found its way to the feet of Jonathan David in the six-yard box, and he side-footed his shot into the net. Midfielder Stephen Eustáquio looked to drop deep and pick up the ball, allowing Alistair Johnston to get forward. Eustáquio displayed his passing abilities as he sprayed long passes across the field, often switching the play. Steven Vitória held down the backline, allowing leftsided centre-back Kamal Miller and right-sided centre-back Alistair Johnston to advance forward. Miller’s forward runs played a large part in the team’s second goal. The two-goal lead gave Canada comfort and goalkeeper Milan Borjan was ready when called upon. Borjan made two important stops early on and rushed 40-yards out of his goal to clear a ball that was sent in behind the backline.

In the second half, Canada took the opportunity to rest its starters and use its squad depth by making six substitutions. CharlesAndreas Brym, Richie Laryea, Mark-Anthony Kaye, Ismaël Koné, Liam Millar and Iké Ugbo all made an appearance in the second half. Miller hit the crossbar in the second half after a dangerous free kick from Canada fell to his feet. The team looked to score more goals but couldn’t put another in the net despite their many chances.

Ahead of this winter’s FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™, Canada will play one more away international “A” match during the September international window in Europe. Canada will face FIFA World Cup finalists Uruguay on Tuesday 27 September at Stadion Tehelné pole in Bratislava, Slovakia. “We have a tough test, but after four years of playing Concacaf opponents, the players have been dreaming of playing a nation of the stature of Uruguay,” said Herdman. “We’ve been waiting for it and we’re excited, but we have to temper that because of the quality that they have. We will need to put the work in for the next few days to make sure we are ready to go again.”

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 23, 2022 CANADA 0 v 2 URUGUAY

GENERALI ARENA, VIENNA, AUSTRIA ATTENDANCE ?????

Because soccer is low scoring, it's a game in which subtle differences matter, and better teams often prevail because of small but consistent advantages in speed, movement, technique. The best win inch by inch, touch by touch. Canada's men have been on an incredible run to qualify for their first World Cup in 36 years, but that success will see them matched against the toughest teams on Earth in November. Tuesday's friendly in Bratislava against Uruguay, ranked 13th by FIFA's measure, was that rare reward that takes the form of an awakening, a welcome that doubled as a rejection. "This is what Canada's got to learn," head coach John Herdman said after the 2-0 loss. "You're not going to get a gift. You have to earn it." Uruguay scored in the sixth minute off a top-corner free kick from Nicolás de la Cruz, and the outcome was never really up to the Canadians again. Ranked 43rd, they showed resolve and had an admirable share of the ball. It's just the Uruguayans knew so much better what to do with it. "I think we controlled the game," midfielder Stephen Eustáquio said. "Just the quality stands out." It's been more than a decade since Canada played a team with Uruguay's talent and grace. For long-time Canadian soccer fans, the game was surreal to watch; it must have been otherworldly to play. Alistair Johnston, who was starting in League1 Ontario only three years ago, found himself marking Uruguay's Darwin Nunez, who cost Liverpool €100 million in June. Johnston has been excellent during qualifying, but when Nunez towered over him to head home Uruguay's second goal in the 33rd minute, the differences in level — and height — were painfully clear. Dreams are dreams. Reality remains reality. The Canadians opened their international window last week by beating World Cup host Qatar convincingly, 2-0. (It was, in some ways, much like the Uruguay match but with Canada's role reversed.) Despite the victory — the sort of win that "new Canada" should come to see as routine — the game exposed flaws that Herdman can only attempt to hide. Milan Borjan, for instance, has been a sensation in the Canadian goal but his distribution doesn't match his shot stopping. Watching him, it feels like a howler is coming. Opponents will apply massive pressure on him when he has the ball at his feet, and his teammates will have to work to make sure he has easy outlets. Finishing is also a major concern. Soccer is a game of limited opportunities, and successful teams make the most of them. The Canadians are still less-than-clinical with their set pieces and inside the box. "There's not going to be any special award for losing games where you have a chance to win them," Herdman said. In the waning minutes of the Qatar game, Kamal Miller had a gift of a rebound that he put off the crossbar and over the net from four yards out. In a closer or more pivotal match, that's the sort of blunder that might haunt you forever. Against Uruguay, the missed chances, particularly on dozens of unmet crosses, were legion. Now, after one final friendly against Japan on Nov. 17, Belgium, Croatia, and Morocco await. World Cup nerves won't make things any easier for the Canadian men. Herdman has been carefully, if a little obviously, trying to ease the pressure they must be feeling, talking about how his team will be the underdog in every game it will play. He's emphasized experience over results, growth over achievement. "I think there will be lots to learn," Herdman said in advance of the Uruguay game. "It's been about building."

Canada Soccer’s Men’s National Team will face Japan as part of their final preparations ahead of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™. The two nations are scheduled to meet on Thursday 17 November in an international “A” friendly match at Al Maktoum Stadium in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Both nations will play their opening match less than a week later on Wednesday 23 November with Canada to face Belgium in Group F.

“With an eight-week gap between our September matches and our first match at the FIFA World Cup, it is important for our players to experience that level of international intensity with our pre-tournament match against Japan,” said John Herdman, Canada Soccer’s Men’s National Team Head Coach. “Japan have consistently progressed from the group stage at recent FIFA World Cups, so it will be a good test for the group.”

This marks Canada’s first participation at the men’s FIFA World Cup since Mexico 1986. Canada qualified for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ after winning the Concacaf Final Round of FIFA World Cup Qualifiers, also leading the eight-nation table with 23 goals scored and only seven goals conceded. Across 20 matches from all three rounds of FIFA World Cup Qualifiers, Canada posted 14 wins and two draws with 54 goals scored, 12 clean sheets, and just eight goals conceded.

Also ahead of this winter’s FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™, Canada will play two away international “A” matches during the September international window in Europe. Like the November match, both September matches will feature FIFA World Cup finalists: Canada against Qatar on Friday 23 September at Generali Arena in Vienna, Austria and then Canada against Uruguay on Tuesday 27 September at Stadion Tehelné pole in Bratislava, Slovakia.

Canada’s September and November matches will be broadcast live on OneSoccer, available as a linear channel on Telus’s Optik TV (Channel 980) as well as online at OneSoccer.ca, through the OneSoccer app and on the fuboTV Canada platform. Fans will find extended coverage for the matches across Canada Soccer’s digital channels on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube featuring the hashtag #CANMNT.

WOMEN TO FACE ARGENTINA AND MOROCCO LATER THIS MONTH

Canada Soccer’s Women’s National Team will travel to Cadiz, Spain during the October 2022 FIFA international window to face Argentina and Morocco in a pair of international “A” friendly matches. Canada will first face Argentina on Thursday 6 October and will later play Morocco on Monday 10 October 2022. Both matches will be played at Estadio Municipal de Chapín in Jerez, Spain. “This window gives us the opportunity to experience different styles of opposition that will come with the expanded 32-nation FIFA Women’s World Cup,“ said Bev Priestman, Canada Soccer’s Women’s National Team Head Coach. “I’m glad we secured two nations that have qualified and who we could very much face next summer. There are still some players missing with injuries and so I hope we can continue to assess players in the wider pool and see them take their opportunity to step up as we saw many do in Australia. This is the last window before the FIFA Women’s World Cup draw and so from this window we are excited to learn our path and finalise 20222023 planning” Canada won both of their matches in the September window against Australia, a 1:0 victory on Saturday 3 September and the 2:1 victory on Tuesday 6 September 2022. They were Canada’s first two international matches since the Concacaf W Championship as the squad now focuses squarely on the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023.

Canada Soccer’s Women’s National Team have announced their squad for the upcoming October 2022 international window for the International Football Festival in Cádiz, Spain. Canada will face Argentina on Thursday 6 October and then Morocco on Monday 10 October. Both matches will be played at Estadio Municipal de Chapín in Jerez, Spain. Priestman’s squad will have the opportunity to test themselves against two opponents who have already qualified for the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023™. This camp will mark the last international window before the Official Draw for the FIFA Women’s World Cup™ on 22 October 2022 in Auckland, New Zealand, where Canada will learn more about the path that lies ahead of the biggest tournament in the world. “To play two Women’s World Cup opponents with different styles ahead of the draw is exciting and will only support the invaluable experiences we will accumulate in the remaining four FIFA windows,” said Bev Priestman, Canada Soccer’s Women’s National Team Head Coach. “We know that in a World Cup, the variation of tiers and styles is much greater compared to an Olympics. Therefore, this is a perfect fit at this stage given our recent and future Tier one fixtures. The squad is still missing some key players, however, at this stage it does allow us to assess and re-assess players that have done well in our environment, in club or college ahead of 2023.”

The Thursday match kicks off at 13.00 ET / 10.00 PT (19.00 local) while the Monday match kicks off at 10.30 ET / 07.30 PT (16.30 local). Fans will find extended coverage for the matches across Canada Soccer’s digital channels on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube featuring the hashtag #CANWNT. The FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023™, which will be held from 20 July 2023 to 20 August 2023, will see 30 nations join the hosts Australia and New Zealand who have already qualified for the biggest tournament in the world. The FIFA Women’s World Cup™ will be a tournament of firsts. In 2023, fans will see 32 nations playing 64 matches across nine host cities in Australia and New Zealand for the first time in FIFA Women’s World Cup™ history.

CANADA SQUAD

Two players will return to Canada Soccer’s Women’s National Team after receiving their first call ups during September’s international window: Celtic FC Clarissa Larisey and University of Southern California Simi Awujo. Awujo’s University of Southern California teammate, Zoe Burns, has received her third call-up into Canada Soccer’s Women’s National Team. Jade Rose of Harvard University will join the Canada squad for the ninth time in her career. With 317 international “A” appearances, Christine Sinclair is the most experienced international player in the October squad. Sinclair has made 305 starts, scored 190 goals, and helped Canada post 170 wins. She is a 14-time Canada Soccer Player of the Year and two-time Canadian Athlete of the Year. Sinclair of Portland Thorns FC is one of 10 Canada players based in the National Women’s Soccer League alongside club teammate Janine Beckie of Portland Thorns FC, Kailen Sheridan of San Diego Wave FC, Allysha Chapman, Sophie Schmidt and Nichelle Prince of Houston Dash, Bianca St-Georges of Chicago Red Stars, Quinn and Jordyn Huitema of OL Reign, and Desiree Scott of Kansas City Current. Kadeisha Buchanan of Chelsea FC and Ashley Lawrence of Paris Saint-Germain will both return to the Canada lineup after not being available for the last Canada camp in September. The rest of the Canada squad features returning players based in Europe Jessie Fleming of Chelsea FC, Adriana Leon of Manchester United FC, Shelina Zadorsky of Tottenham Hotspur, Julia Grosso of Juventus FC, Cloé Lacasse of SL Benfica, Evelyne Viens of Kristianstads DFF, Sura Yekka of Le Havre AC, Sabrina D’Angelo of Vittsjö GIK and Lysianne Proulx of SCU Torreense. Unavailable for the October camp are injured players Vanessa Gilles of FCF Olympique Lyonnais, Deanne Rose of Reading FC, Gabrielle Carle of Kristianstads DFF and Jayde Riviere of the University of Michigan.