Toronto Star Referrer

Canada will face more elite competition

T HE CANADIAN P R E S S

Men’s coach John Herdman has made playing top-tier opposition a priority

Canada is getting its wish to play more top-tier competition ahead of the 2026 FIFA men’s World Cup.

CONCACAF and South America’s CONMEBOL signed an agreement to “strengthen and develop” soccer in both regions. The deal includes men’s and women’s national team competitions and a new men’s club tournament.

The U.S. will host Copa America, the South American championship, in the summer of 2024 with10 CONMEBOL teams plus the six best CONCACAF teams as guests.

On the women’s side, CONCACAF has invited the top four CONMEBOL teams to take part in the 2024 CONCACAF W Gold Cup. The 12-team tournament will be played in the U.S.

The federations will also organize a centralized, final four club competition. The participating teams (two from each group) will qualify through existing club competitions with the first edition slated for 2024.

Canada, which ended a 36-year absence from the World Cup when it took part in Qatar, is co-hosting the 2026 men’s World Cup with Mexico and the U.S. Canada coach John Herdman has made playing top-tier opposition a priority. The Canadian men, ranked 51st, have played CONCACAF competition almost exclusively in recent years. The play next in March, with CONCACAF Nations League matches at No. 86 Curacao on March 23 and home to No. 81Honduras on March 28.

The Canadian women take part in the four-team SheBelieves Cup next month in Orlando.

SPORTS

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2023-01-28T08:00:00.0000000Z

2023-01-28T08:00:00.0000000Z

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