Ottawa, Ontario \u0096 The Canadian Soccer Association today announced the Women’s World Cup Team will play two internationals against Mexico prior to departing for the 2003 Women’s World Cup in China. The Association also announced some of the upcoming games, camps and tours which will place in the year 2003. Several other projects are currently being discussed and negotiated and will be released upon confirmation.
\u200bThe CSA will mark the one year anniversary of reaching the final of the FIFA U-19 Women’s World Championship by hosting a full women’s international friendly against Mexico at Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton on September 1. The Women’s World Cup team now features several regular starters from the U-19 team which faced the United States at Commonwealth Stadium last year in front of a record crowd of close 50,000 fans. A second game against Mexico will be played in Vancouver’s Swangard Stadium on September 4 before the Canadians leave for China and the World Cup (September 24 \u0096 October 11).
\u200bHead coach Even Pellerud will begin his preparations for the World Cup with a training camp in Bradenton, Florida from February 10-20 before leaving for Portugal and the Algarve Cup. Canada will now face Norway, the United States and Sweden, following group realignment last month.
\u200bThe Men’s World Cup Team, under head coach Holger Osieck, has already played a friendly against the United States (January 18) and have already scheduled a number of games leading up to the 2003 Gold Cup.
\u200bCanada will play Libya on February 12th in Tripoli, Estonia on March 29 in Tallinn and Germany in Wolfsburg on June 1. The team also has a conditional agreement to play Jamaica on July 6 in Kingston as part of their preparation for the Gold Cup. The game will not take place should Canada and Jamaica be drawn in the same city. Canada is expected to be placed in Miami for the competition which is scheduled for July 12-27.
\u200bThe Men’s Youth (Under-20) Team will compete in their second consecutive FIFA World Youth Championship from March 25 \u0096 April 16 in the United Arab Emirates. In preparation, the team, under head coach Dale Mitchell, will play two games against Trinidad and Tobago in Port of Spain on February 17 and 19. The team will hold a training camp for domestic players in Abbotsford, BC from March 3-10 before leaving for a 10-day training camp in Turkey, March 10-20.
\u200bThe Men’s Junior (Under-17) Team will play three games in Kingston, Jamaica from February 20-24 and will hold a training camp in Victoria from March 15-25 in preparation for the CONCACAF Qualifying Tournament in Victoria, BC, March 26-30. Canada will face Mexico, Costa Rica and Cuba in their group with the winner advancing to the FIFA Under-7 World Cup in Finland in September.
\u200bThe Women’s Under-17 Team (head coach Lewis Page) and the Under-16 team (head coach Bryan Rosenfeld) will hold a joint training camp with games against the United States in San Diego from February 1-9.
\u200bIan Bridge will take his Under-18 team (preparing for the 2004 Under-19 Championships) to Oregon from February 22- March 2 with games against local university teams. From March 29 to April 6, the team will play exhibition games against Notre Dame, Michigan, Nebraska and Mexico in a tournament at the University of Notre Dame. The team will also travel to Houston, Texas for the adidas Cup from May 27 \u0096 June 1.
\u200bIn July, Bridge will take the team to Europe with games scheduled against Norway on July 1 and 3 and Germany on July 14 and 17.
\u200bOther games and camps will be announced once they are confirmed.
\u200bUPCOMING GAMES AND CAMPS
\u200bFebruary 1-9 – Women’s Under-17 and Under-16
\u200bTraining Camp and Games vs USA
\u200bSan Diego, California
\u200bFebruary 22 \u0096 March 2 – Women’s Under-18
\u200bUniversity Games in Oregon
\u200bPortland, Oregon
\u200bFebruary 10-20 – Women’s World Cup Team
\u200bTraining Camp
\u200bBradenton, Florida
\u200bFebruary 12 – Men’s World Cup Team
\u200bCANADA v. Libya
\u200bTripoli
\u200bFebruary 17 – Men’s Youth Team
\u200bCANADA v. Trinidad and Tobago
\u200bPort-of-Spain
\u200bFebruary 19 – Men’s Youth Team
\u200bCANADA v. Trinidad and Tobago
\u200bPort-of-Spain
\u200bFebruary 20 \u0096 Men’s Junior Team
\u200bCANADA v. Jamaica
\u200bKingston, Jamaica
\u200bFebruary 22 \u0096 Men’s Junior Team
\u200bCANADA v. Jamaica
\u200bKingston, Jamaica
\u200bFebruary 24 \u0096 Men’s Junior Team
\u200bCANADA v. Jamaica
\u200bKingston, Jamaica
\u200bMARCHt
\u200bMarch 7-13 – Women’s World Cup Team
\u200bTraining Camp
\u200bPortugal
\u200bMarch 3-10 – Men’s Under-20 Team
\u200bTraining Camp (domestic players)
\u200bAbbotsford, BC
\u200bMarch 10-20 – Men’s Under-20 Team
\u200bTraining Camp
\u200bTurkey
\u200bMarch 14-20 – Women’s World Cup Team
\u200bAlgarve Cup 2003
\u200bPortugal
\u200bMarch 25-April 16 – Men’s Under-20 Team
\u200bFIFA Youth Championship
\u200bUnited Arab Emirates
\u200bMarch 15-25 – Men’s U-17 Team
\u200bTraining Camp
\u200bVictoria, BC
\u200bMarch 26-30 – Men’s U-17 Team
\u200bCONCACAF Qualifications
\u200bVictoria, BC
\u200bMarch 29 – Men’s World Cup Team
\u200bCANADA v. Estonia
\u200bTallinn
\u200bMarch 29 \u0096 April 6 – Women’s Under-18
\u200bCANADA vs Notre Dame, Michigan, Nebraska, Mexico
\u200bUniversity of Notre Dame
\u200bAPRIL
\u200bTBAt
\u200bMAY
\u200bt
\u200bMay 27 \u0096 June 1 – Women’s Under-18 Team
\u200badidas Cup
\u200bHouston, Texas
\u200bJUNE
\u200bJune 1 \u0096 Men’s World Cup Team
\u200bCANADA vs Germany
\u200bWolfsburg
\u200bTBA – Women’s World Cup Team
\u200bTBA
\u200bCanada
\u200bJULYt
\u200bJuly 12-27 – Men’s World Cup Team
\u200bCONCACAF Men’s Gold Cup
\u200bUSA
\u200bAUGUST
\u200bSEPTEMBERt
\u200bSeptember 1 \u0096 Women’s World Cup Team
\u200bCANADA vs Mexico
\u200bEdmonton
\u200bSeptember 4 \u0096 Women’s World Cup Team
\u200bCANADA vs Mexico
\u200bVancouver
\u200bSeptember 23 – October 11 – Women’s World Cup
\u200bWomen’s World Cup 2003
\u200bChina