The Canadian soccer community has embraced Canada’s National Team’s mission towards the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil\u0099 with unprecedented support. Canadian clubs and supporters will fill the 12th man role on 11 October when Canada faces Puerto Rico at BMO Field on the fourth of six qualifying matches of the CONCACAF Stage II.
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\u200bCommunity soccer clubs group initiative
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\u200bAs part of the group ticket initiative introduced by the Association in partnership with the Ontario Soccer Association, Erin Mills SC of Mississauga, ON has been selected to provide the State Farm Ball Retrievers for the 11 October match. The club took advantage of this first-time initiative aimed at community soccer clubs and organized the largest group to attend the match.
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\u200bIn total, nearly 20 community clubs from across Southern Ontario participated in the program and will be recognized on the video board at half-time of the Canada-Puerto Rico match at BMO Field. Although the incentive program window has closed for the October 11 match against Puerto Rico, clubs still wanting to organize a group of their own to attend the upcoming home match can contact marketing@soccercan.ca All clubs interested in the incentive program for Canada’s final match of this stage at BMO Field on Tuesday 15 November against St. Kitts and Nevis can still participate by contacting marketing@soccercan.ca or by visiting migmultidev-canada-soccer.pantheonsite.io to learn more.
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\u200bAdditional local soccer support
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\u200bBuilding on the momentum that the 11,500 pro-Canadian fans created at the last home match, a number of leagues, clubs and academies have decided to provide their athletes with the best chance to attend this world-class soccer match by cancelling any training activities scheduled on match day. This represents an incomparable learning opportunity for these young athletes and the Association strongly encourages all Directors to follow their lead.
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\u200bTony Fonseca, Canadian Soccer Association High Performance Director \u0096 Men stated that \u0093I would ask that you do everything possible to encourage your players and coaches to attend our upcoming matches, as these opportunities to watch Canada are a crucial developmental opportunity for Canada’s young players. Canada’s top players only return home to play on a limited number of occasions every year, and it is crucial that your club’s young players be given the chance to observe the beautiful game at the highest level this country has to offer.\u0094
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\u200b\u0093Taste the soup\u0094 comes to life
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\u200bThe Canadian soccer supporters group The Voyageurs have taken the gospel of head coach Stephen Hart to another level! They will be running a canned food drive before the 11 October match to \u0093make sure everyone can Taste the soup\u0094. Fans attending the pre-match gathering at Maroon October 11 can drop off some goods and be entered into a draw to win Canada Soccer Umbro gear. For more details visit The Voyageurs website. The Canadian Soccer Association has also arranged for food donations to be accepted at BMO Field outside gate one (these donations are not eligible for prizes).
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\u200bCanada will next take to the pitch for the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil\u0099 Qualifiers in St. Lucia on 7 October in Basseterre.
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\u200bFans that have not yet purchased their tickets for the October 11 match against Puerto Rico at BMO Field can do so through Ticketmaster.ca or 1.855.985.5000. Advantageous family packages as well as individual tickets are available, starting as low as $20..
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\u200bCanada will need to finish in first place in Group D of this CONCACAF Round 2 to advance to the next stage of 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil\u0099 Qualifiers. Canada currently sits on top of group D with six points, followed closely by its November opponent St. Kitts and Nevis (four points); Puerto Rico (one point) and St. Lucia (no points) round up the group.
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\u200bThirty-five nations from CONCACAF will participate in the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil\u0099 Qualifiers. After five teams were eliminated in CONCACAF Round 1, there are 24 teams participating in CONCACAF Round 2 this fall. Six Round 2 group winners will then meet up with six more nations for CONCACAF Round 3, with the 12 teams separated into three groups. The top two teams from each Round 3 group will then advance to CONCACAF Round 4, a final group of six teams from which three teams will automatically qualify for Brazil 2014\u0099 and a fourth team will advance to an intercontinental playoff against the champion from Oceania.