Canada’s Women's National Team will host USA at BC Place!
June 29th, 2017
It will be a clash between arch rivals in the first of two matches between the North American foes, with a second match set for 12 November in the USA. With Canada determined to reach the top of the FIFA world rankings, the battle between the world’s top ranked USA and fourth ranked Canada will be must-see matches. Individual tickets for the match go on sale 5 July at 10am via Ticketmaster.ca and group tickets are available now. Additionally, the matches will be available to viewers on TSN and RDS.
Most Canadians will remember the epic battle between the two teams at the London 2012 Olympics, a memorable moment that put Canada Soccer’s Women’s National Team firmly in the upper echelons of Canadian sports, and the rivalry endures as the CONCACAF opponents continue to face off in FIFA Women’s World Cup and Olympic Qualification cycles.
“There is always a friendly rivalry with the USA and it’s also hard to forget London 2012 – that memory sticks with you,” said Head Coach John Herdman. “But what this match offers us, at near the beginning of our four-year cycle, is a chance to get another true tier one test with a young team. By the end of this year we will have played the Olympic Gold and Silver Medalists and the world’s number one team, so this match will really give us a good indication of where our gaps are, two and three years out from the FIFA Women’s World Cup France 2019 and Tokyo 2020 Olympics.”
Canada’ last win against the USA was in 2001, but that statistic doesn’t reflect the reality of the competition these two teams bring to the pitch. Herdman’s first game with Canada was a 1-1 draw against the USA in September 2011. The last two encounters resulted in another 1-1 draw in Winnipeg in front of 28,255, and a 2-0 loss in the final of the CONCACAF Olympic Qualifier in 2016. Canada went on to win bronze in Rio 2016, while the USA bowed out in the quarterfinals.
With the depth of the Canadian side now offering increased striking and goal scoring ability, including from teenagers Fleming, Huitema and Rose, Canada’s attacking potential has given rise to great hope for the squad’s future.
For captain Christine Sinclair, the top women’s goal scorer still active in International soccer (just behind retired USA’s Abby Wambach by a mere 16 goals), becoming number one is goal that is realistic and within Canada’s grasp.