When Canada takes the field this Friday 2 September, the players will be supported by over 350 Canadian soccer fans from Guelph Soccer Club. By virtue of bringing the largest group to participate in the local club group sales initiative ahead of the 2 September match where Canada will face St. Lucia in the first 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil\u0099 Qualifiers at BMO Field, Guelph Soccer was granted the exclusive opportunity to provide the State Farm Ball Retrievers for the match.
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\u200b\u0093This event gives Guelph Soccer the opportunity to be proud for several reasons\u0094 said Alan Gould, Executive Director. \u0093Firstly, we have the opportunity to come together and cheer on our National Team in a very important game. At the same time, we also have the opportunity to see our young players participate at field level in an activity that will provide a lifelong memory. Finally, and most importantly for a community soccer club such as ours, it provides us with the opportunity to thank our volunteers for the hours that they spend on the field, at events and around the club. Without that involvement we simply cannot provide the programs that we do.\u0094
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\u200bThe Canadian Soccer Association, in partnership with the Ontario Soccer Association, introduced a group sales initiative for the first time which was aimed at community soccer clubs ahead of this fall’s World Cup Qualifiers. In addition to a 20% discount for groups, special incentives were built into the program to encourage clubs to purchase tickets. Clubs which reached the first tier incentive will be recognized on the BMO Field big screen at half time of the 2 September match. The second tier of incentives included an autographed ball by the Men’s National Team. The third and final tier featured the in-stadium recognition, an autographed ball and the opportunity to provide the State Farm Ball Retrievers for the match. In total, nearly 20 community clubs from across Southern Ontario participated in the program with even more involved for the 11 October match against Puerto Rico at BMO Field.
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\u200bFans that have not yet purchased their tickets can do so through Ticketmaster.ca or 1.855.985.5000. Advantageous three-match series tickets as well as individual tickets are available, starting as low as $20 for single-match tickets.
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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. The group also includes St. Lucia, Puerto Rico and St. Kitts and Nevis
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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.
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