Moment 1: Canada participates in FIFA World Cup

On the first day of June in 1986, Canada participated in a FIFA World Cup finals match for the first time in Association history. In front of 65,000 fans at Estadio León at Mexico 1986, Canada faced European champion France in the opening group match of the FIFA World Cup. The Canadian XI played very well, only losing on a Jean-Pierre Papin goal in the 79th minute.

Canada qualified for the 1986 FIFA World Cup Mexico by winning the 1985 CONCACAF Championship, clinching the top spot on 14 September 1985 in front of a sold-out crowd at King George V Park in St. John’s, NL. Canada famously won that last FIFA World Cup Qualifiers match 2:1 over Honduras with goals from George Pakos and Igor Vrablic.

The Canadian Soccer Association celebrates its 100th anniversary throughout the 2012 calendar year. While soccer (football) has been played in Canada since 1876, the Canadian Soccer Association (or the Dominion of Canada Football Association as it was known in the day) was inaugurated on 24 May 1912. As part of the centennial celebrations, the Canadian Soccer Association will unveil the “Top-10 Moments” in Canadian soccer history as well as engage soccer fans to select the “All-Time Canada XI” teams for men’s and women’s football. The celebrations will culminate with Canada’s two Centennial Matches – a Women’s International Friendly on 30 May in Moncton and a Men’s International Friendly match on 3 June in Toronto.

Tickets to Canada’s 3 June Centennial home match – as well three FIFA World Cup Qualifiers in June, September and October – are available via Ticketmaster (ticketmaster.ca / 1.855.570.7500) with full details at CanadaSoccer.com/seetheerise. Also to celebrate Canada’s 100th anniversary, Canada’s men’s and women’s national teams will wear a special blue Centennial Kit tailored by Umbro. The kit will be worn exclusively by the men on 3 June and by the women for a second Centennial match on 30 June at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy, UT, USA. Limited quantities of Canada’s Centennial clothing line – including jersey, anthem jacket and cap – are available exclusively at CanadaSoccer.com.