October 7 – The fast-improving Canadian men’s team will host two of their crucial Qatar 2022 World Cup qualifying matches in Edmonton, Canada, one of the two Canadian cities bidding for a 2026 World Cup hosting.
Canadian football is currently running hot with their women’s team taking Gold medal in the Olympics and their men’s team narrowly losing in the semi-finals of the Gold Cup 2-1 to Mexico.
Edmonton and its 56,000 capacity Commonwealth Stadium will provide the domestic backdrop for an opportunity for revenge over the Mexicans who have qualified for every World Cup since 1994 and have played at 13 of the 16 finals tournaments held.
The city will host Canada vs Costa Rica on November 12 before the visit of Mexico on November 16.
The timing is good for Edmonton as the city will also host a FIFA delegation in November as part of the World Cup 2026 venue inspections.
Edmonton is no stranger to hosting major FIFA events having held numerous matches in the 2002 U19 Women’s World Championship, the 2007 U-20 World Cup, the 2014 U-20 Women’s World Cup, and the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
The city says that hosting World Cup 2026 matches is the next natural step in their progression and point to their role in helping the women’s team become world beaters.
“This is a fantastic boost for the city, and testament to our efforts in attracting and delivering the best and biggest international sports events in the world. Following the success of our women’s soccer team at the Olympic Games in Tokyo, the men’s team is also on a rapid rise, and to be a part of their efforts to qualify for the World Cup 2022, is a huge honor that we take very seriously,” said Janelle Janis, Director of Edmonton Events.
Edmonton does have a special connection with the Canadian team with one of the world’s biggest young talents, Bayern Munich’s Alphonso Davies, having grown up in the city.
Concacaf will qualify three teams from the current 8-team final group 2022 play-offs. The fourth placed team will go into the intercontinental play-offs for a further chance of winning a place at Qatar 2022.
Canada play Mexico tomorrow before travelling to Jamaica at the weekend and then home to host Panama in their third match of the international window.
After three matches Mexico currently top the qualifying group with seven points, but Canada, Panama and the US are close behind on five points each.
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