Canadian soccer fans in Vancouver will have to wait until the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off to see their national team play at home, as the squad's pre-tournament friendly matches have been scheduled for other major cities.
Warm-Up Schedule Skips West Coast
The Canadian men's national team, currently ranked 27th in the world, has confirmed a series of exhibition matches leading up to the global tournament it will co-host. The team will face Uzbekistan on June 1 at Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton, a venue with historic significance for the program. Additional friendlies are slated for Montreal in June and Toronto in March, though opponents for those games have not yet been announced.
This schedule means Vancouver, which will host Canada's group stage matches against Qatar on June 18 and Switzerland on June 24, will not see the Reds in a preparatory match. The decision leaves West Coast supporters anticipating the main event without a local tune-up game.
Edmonton's 'Iceteca' Provides Emotional Blueprint
The choice of Edmonton is deeply symbolic. The city was the site of the legendary "Iceteca" match in November 2021, where Canada defeated Mexico 2-1 in frigid conditions during World Cup qualifying. That victory, the first over El Tri in 45 years, was a pivotal moment that propelled Canada to the top of the CONCACAF qualifying table and ultimately to the 2022 World Cup.
Defender Richie Laryea, who played in that iconic game, recalled the experience at a news conference in Los Angeles. "I remember it being very cold," Laryea said with a smile. "I remember the training sessions feeling terrible, but when it came to match day, it did serve almost as an advantage to us. Overall, a really good experience. It's one of the memorable moments for us as a national team — probably a pretty big turning point for us as well."
Head coach Jesse Marsch, who watched the 2021 match from Europe while coaching Red Bull Leipzig, believes returning to the scene of that triumph can have a galvanizing effect. "That moment in time … helped these players believe that they were good, that they could do this," Marsch stated. He sees the Uzbekistan friendly as a chance to "bring back a moment where it all really took off."
Marsch's Strategic Vision and Davies' Homecoming
Marsch explained that selecting Uzbekistan, currently ranked 50th by FIFA, was a strategic decision. He described the Central Asian nation as an "Asian powerhouse" with a similar trajectory and playing style that will offer ideal preparation, particularly for the World Cup opener against Qatar.
"The whole game of dominoes of how to get opponents when you're not in qualifying phase … has been like an incredible puzzle to try to solve," Marsch admitted. "But we really felt that Uzbekistan... represents a bit of a similar playing style to Qatar, but I think a really good challenge and a really good team."
The Edmonton match will also serve as a homecoming for captain Alphonso Davies, with one potential complication. If Davies's club team, Bayern Munich, reaches the UEFA Champions League final on May 30, just two days before the Canada friendly, his involvement may be limited. Marsch is committed to having him on the pitch, however briefly. "Even if it's a moment late in the game... we're going to find a way to make sure that he's a part of that," Marsch assured.
As the team begins its final build-up with a January 17 match against Guatemala, the focus is on harnessing the momentum from past successes and channeling it into a historic performance on home soil in 2026. For Vancouver fans, the wait for a live glimpse of that process continues, building anticipation for the main event in June.
