USMNT to face surprising Canada in key match
The U.S. men’s national soccer team will play an away match on Sunday afternoon against the undefeated leader CONCACAF’s World Cup qualifying.
The venue, though, is not famed Estadio Azteca in Mexico City but one sponsored by a doughnut conglomerate. The opponent is not Mexico but Canada. Canada?
The program that has appeared in the sport’s biggest competition once (1986) and has not advanced to the final round of regional qualifying since the 1998 cycle? The outfit that has failed to win the CONCACAF Gold Cup since 2000 and made seven coaching changes, not including several interim caretakers, over 25 in years? Yes, Canada.
When the teams clash at Tim Hortons Field in Hamilton, Ontario — a CFL stadium with artificial turf and at half-capacity because of coronavirus pandemic rules — the Canadians (5-0-4, 19 points) will carry a one-point lead over the Americans (5-1-3) and a 2-point advantage over Mexico (5-2-2).
Three teams from the eight-nation group will receive automatic berths in the World Cup in Qatar late this year and a fourth will advance to an intercontinental playoff.
Victory on Sunday, then Wednesday in El Salvador, would all but secure passage for Canada, which, in the past year, has jumped 33 spots in the FIFA rankings to No. 40. The United States is No. 11 and Mexico No. 14.
Explaining Canada’s success, U.S. Coach Gregg Berhalter said: “It’s similar to us. They have a young player pool and highly talented players. They are a well-coached team. They know how to play. They have a clear philosophy and they deserve to be where theyare right now.”
“It’s a special story that’s unfolding here,” Canada coach John Herdman said, “and it seems like every man is being able to contribute on the journey.”
No Weah
Forward Tim Weah is not with the U.S. team in Ontario because he did not meet Canadian health protocols, Berhalter said. Weah, who started in the 1-0 victory over El Salvador on Thursday, has had one vaccines hot and tested positive in September, Berhalter said.