Canada’s head coach, Jesse Marsch, has announced plans for a 10-day training camp in California for North American players in January, leading up to a friendly match against Guatemala. The camp is scheduled to take place from January 8 to 18 in Irvine, California, with the game against Guatemala, ranked 94th, set for January 17 at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles.
Given that European-based players are occupied with club competitions, the camp is specifically designed for North American players who are currently out of season. The upcoming match against Guatemala is classified as a Tier 1 international fixture and will contribute towards the FIFA men’s world rankings, as confirmed by Canada Soccer.
The Canadian men’s team is seeking redemption against Guatemala after a heartbreaking exit from the Gold Cup in June, where they suffered a 6-5 penalty shootout defeat in the quarterfinals. The match ended in a 1-1 draw after regular time, with Canada playing a man down after winger Jacob Shaffelburg received a red card just before halftime.
In their history against Guatemala, Canada holds a record of 10 wins, 2 losses, and 3 draws, including the recent Gold Cup match that ended in a loss. The previous defeats to Guatemala occurred during World Cup qualifying matches in 2004 and 1998.
With limited FIFA international windows available before the World Cup in June, the January camp provides Coach Marsch with an opportunity to work with a group of North America-based players. Marsch emphasized the significance of the camp in helping players develop and maintain match fitness as they prepare for the upcoming season.
The Canadian men’s national team, currently ranked 27th, will kick off their World Cup campaign on June 12 at Toronto’s BMO Field against the winner of a European playoff.