Canada will play their first home match in 2018-19 Concacaf Nations League Qualifying on Tuesday, October 16 in Toronto at BMO Field. The new competition kicks off an exciting era for Canada Soccer’s Men’s National Team on the road to the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar™.
Canada will face Dominica in the October 16, 2018 home match with a 7 p.m. local kick off. Tickets will go on sale to the public on Wednesday, July 25 at 10 a.m. ET / 07 a.m. PT via Ticketmaster.ca, with public ticket sales preceded by an exclusive advance window for Canada Soccer insiders on Tuesday, July 24. Groups of 10 or more are eligible for discounts of up to 30% off regularly priced tickets, and can submit their group order now, via the group ticket order form.
At stake in 2018-19 Concacaf Nations League Qualifying is a spot in the 2019 Concacaf Gold Cup as well as the classification groups in Concacaf Nations League. From 68 qualifying matches, the top 10 nations will qualify for the 2019 Concacaf Gold Cup while the top-six nations will additionally qualify for CONCACAF Nations League "A".
“We know that as a country, we can strive to be the best in Concacaf,” said John Herdman, Canada Soccer’s Men’s National Team Head Coach & Men’s EXCEL Program Director. “We know that these matches are going to be very important as they count towards Concacaf Nations League, Concacaf Gold Cup, and eventually FIFA World Cup Qualifiers. There is a real opportunity within this competition to enhance our skills within Concacaf so that we can build that resilience for when it really matters.”
The expanded 2019 Concacaf Gold Cup – up from 12 to 16 nations – will feature Costa Rica, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, Trinidad and Tobago, USA and those 10 nations from 2018-19 Concacaf Nations League Qualifying.
Canada will begin the 2018-19 Concacaf Nations League Qualifying series on September 9 away against U.S. Virgin Islands. Following the home match in October, Canada will then face St. Kitts & Nevis away on November 18 and then French Guiana at home on March 26 for their last match in this round.
Canada Soccer’s Men’s National Team have won each of their last three home matches dating back to 2015 while both the Men’s National Team and Women’s National Team have combined for an eight-match undefeated streak in 2016 and 2017.
“Speaking to some of our key players, they know how important the next four years are and they know that they have an opportunity to become game changers and heroes for this country,” said Herdman. “There is real clarity in the group and there is belief that we can take the game to a place it hasn't been in more than a quarter of a century.”
Canada are two-time Concacaf champions, having won the Concacaf Championship in 1985 and the CONCACAF Gold Cup in 2000. In winning the 1985 Concacaf Championship, Canada qualified for the 1986 FIFA World Cup Mexico™; in winning the 2000
