Nations League dates with U.S. pose stern test for Canada

After posting a perfect TORONTO record in qualifying play, a young Canada side will now test itself against the U.S. in CONCACAF Nations League A competition. The home-and-away meetings later in 2019 with the 25th-ranked Americans are being seen as a measuring stick for how far the Canadian men, ranked 79th in the world, have come under coach John Herdman. The other team in Canada’s group is No. 174 Cuba. But the marquee matches against the U.S. are the main attraction. “It’s a perfect draw for us, a perfect opportunity for the team, the coach, the players and our fans, who can get behind us now for some great, great matches upcoming,” said Peter Montopoli, general secretary of the Canadian Soccer Association. The group stage will be played in the FIFA international match windows in September, October and November 2019. The tournament championship is scheduled for March 2020. Canada qualified for League A — the top tier of the new three-level CONCACAF competition — after finishing second to Haiti on a tiebreaker in the 34-team qualifying round. The 12-team league A is split into four groups with the pool winners advancing to the tournament semifinals. The bottom teams in the groups will be relegated to League B, with its four group winners earning promotion to the top tier. Toronto FC captain Michael Bradley, who has earned 145 caps for his country, welcomed the draw. “(I’m) really excited,” he said. “Hope the game is in Toronto. My kids are very excited.” Canada’s record against the U.S. is 8-14-11, with the last win coming in April 1985 in Vancouver. The Canadian men have gone 0-9-8 since, although they have drawn two of the last three meetings.