Chances Of Canada Having A World Cup Team?

[Nehkara]

I think a very important part of having Canada become a nation with a World Cup caliber national Soccer team was the addition of Toronto FC to the MLS.

With the upcoming expansion of the MLS into Vancouver (2011) and Montreal (2012), I think this will help build momentum for Canadian Soccer.

I think for a long time it was hard for Canadian players because there was no true professional league for them to play in in this country, but with the expansion of the MLS into Canada, this is changing.

When Toronto FC began its first season in 2007, Canada had a FIFA ranking of 103rd. Currently, Canada is ranked 63rd. Not great but certainly an improvement.

Really what I want to ask to those of you who know more about the sport than I do, what are the chances the Canada will improve enough to have a World Cup team at the... 2018 World Cup? I realize 2014 is probably too soon to see the kind of improvement needed.

[llama64]

I was curious too, this page helps a bit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2010_FI...%28CONCACAF%29

Considering the countries that Canada has to compete against to make it to the World Cup - I'd say the chances are pretty slim unless the national program makes significant strides forward in the next decade.

[GirlySports]

we had this discussion way back at the beginning of the WC thread.
It was a good debate.

I argued for a world class coach

The competition in this region isn't that great. We have to beat a team like Honduras and you all saw how bad they were in the WC.

[CMPunk]

I don't think Toronto FC had that much to do with the the increase in rankings. For the type of change you're looking for you need probably 10-12 years. It's certainly a start getting soccer more into the day to day sports that kids follow, but I think for us to be competative in the World Cup it's going to take more then 8 years...I'm thinking closer to double that

[Matty81]

I have followed the nats for a long time.

Canada is a realistic possibility to make it every world cup. The gulf between us and Honduras in the last cycle was not great. We always have a good supporting cast of MLS/European pros and are ranked in the top 5 in a confed where we get 3.5 World Cup spots. In my opinion what Canada needs to really dominate the smaller teams in CONCACAF in the short term is one or two really top players who the team can be built around and can consistently be difference makers. In the long term the academy model and the 3 pro clubs is what will make us better, there is no doubt in my mind that we will pass countries like Jamaica with big professional academies like the Whitecaps have in the long run.

There are several young Canadian players on the horizon who could be a short term major difference for us in CONCACAF - the big issue going forward for Canada is what country they will choose. Junior Hoillett broke into the EPL at 19 this year with Blackburn and was one of the youngest full time players in the league. He is as talented a player as Canada has had. Born and raised in Canada, Dad is from Jamaica. Said to be leaning Canada. I personally think that if he comes into the side for the next cycle that we will be touch and go to make it with the solid cast we already have.

There are a host of other young Canadian players on the cusp of being really top pros in Europe right now and if another one or two emerge as top talents we will be competing with USA/Mexico for a couple qualifying cycles. We've got a youth keeper at Genoa in the Serie A who just signed a 3 year pro contract at 19. There is talk of Jonathan de Guzman playing for Canada in the next cycle after declaring for Netherlands and never getting called up. In the last couple cycles we have been close but missing that one talent who could provide a defining moment in our close games, if Owen Hargreaves had been a part of the de Guzman/de Rosario group I think we would have made at least one world cup with that group.

[GirlySports]

Just to add Canada needs a true home ground. Forget about appeasing fans in other cities. Play at BMO field and buy all the tickets. Make it a fortress.

Other places like Suputo or Swangard or a new Vancouver stadium, arrange high profile friendlies there. Spend a bit of money to get a good team in, like Uruguay, Japan or Ireland to get experience, build up to the big teams.

[Matty81]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

Just to add Canada needs a true home ground. Forget about appeasing fans in other cities. Play at BMO field and buy all the tickets. Make it a fortress.

Other places like Suputo or Swangard or a new Vancouver stadium, arrange high profile friendlies there. Spend a bit of money to get a good team in, like Uruguay, Japan or Ireland to get experience, build up to the big teams.

The nice thing about the interest the MLS is raising in the domestic game is that Toronto feels like a home game now and is getting some of that atmosphere you're talking about instead of it feeling like an El Salvador home game without the bags of urine being thrown.

I think Vancouver will get cut out of WCQs for the most part - the flight time for the European pros is way too far. I do think Saputo will continue to be used, especially after this big MLS expansion but if one city distinguishes itself as a partisan base I could see them focusing on one city as an exclusive home base.

[Winsor_Pilates]

I don't think we're that far off. Qualifying isn't based on getting into the top 32 rankings; in which case we'd be hooped. It's based on our group and we have enough spots that we always have a shot.
Beyond Mexico and USA, we should be able to compete for the third spot. Agree with Matty81 that the key will be getting good academies in the country so talented kids don't get lost playing low level football that doesn't push them to the next level. The other key is keeping those like Hargreaves who go abroad to get high level play from playing for another country.

[ricoFlame]

The CSA needs to change the way they do things...more friendlies, more cohesivness and unity from the grassroots up from coast to coast.

[Winsor_Pilates]

Just put a deposit down on Whitecaps season tickets!

[Matty81]

Originally Posted by ricoFlame

The CSA needs to change the way they do things...more friendlies, more cohesivness and unity from the grassroots up from coast to coast.

A pretty major revamp was just approved at a recent national meeting approving significant centralization of power. A big problem there has always been that the provinces held alot of power and bicker with one another, with petty provincial association heads vetoing the appointment of impressive national coaches they shouldn't even have a say in and generally getting involved in the running of our Nats trying to puff out their chest and emphasize their own importance.

The talent of the side will always speak for itself on the pitch but a more organized cohesive CSA will help us to keep the Hoiletts and Hargreaves.

Oh and for those interested, another 20,000 seat soccer only stadium in Canada here are the plans for Saputo;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UAHIOVOOcCU
Kind of long video but if you're a soccer fan in Canada, exciting news.

[Matty81]

Originally Posted by Winsor_Pilates

Just put a deposit down on Whitecaps season tickets!

Oh man, super jealous, I actually thought of getting one and coming in from Kelowna but I think I'd miss half the games. Pipe dream with our piddly 2,500 seat stadium but I am hoping they relocate their A-league license here.

[Nehkara]

With Toronto FC already in the MLS and teams planned for Vancouver and Montreal... and a possible expansion to Ottawa, do you guys think that sometime in the next 10 years or so we could see a team in Calgary? I would be there in a heartbeat!

[Sidney Crosby's Hat]

They got into the fourth round in 1998:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1998_FI...%28CONCACAF%29

And in 1994, they were second only to Mexico and likely would have made it if it was 32 teams at that point. In fact, they were penalty kicks away from advancing after splitting two games 2-1 with Australia.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1994_FI...%28CONCACAF%29

[browna]

The CSA has been a joke for the better part of past 2 decades.

Far too much red tape and politics. No clear leadership, or plan...therefore too much infighting, taking the program off on tangents, doing things half assed...all fracturing sides of the organization and various people and players getting fed up with the mismangement. That feeds down to grassroots, so those up and comers career goal maybe isn't necessarily to play for Canada.

With Canada's regional issues, and hoping to get the players playing overseas to buy into the organization, there needs to be a solid and clear plan, more friendly's, and more reason for both players to come back to play in those higher profile games, and, the increased experience the team gains from playing better (and more) opponents. It also showcases the game more within the country and gives youth a goal to acheive.

[Matty81]

Originally Posted by Nehkara

With Toronto FC already in the MLS and teams planned for Vancouver and Montreal... and a possible expansion to Ottawa, do you guys think that sometime in the next 10 years or so we could see a team in Calgary? I would be there in a heartbeat!

Calgary and Edmonton have bad recent track records with soccer.

That said when there are 3 MLS teams in Canada there will be a national TV deal and the game's profile will be much higher.

I don't know Edmonton but given the timing Calgary would support a team in the league below MLS in 3 years or so with a proper small stadium. The last round of A-League teams either played in Foothills athletic stadium or McMahon which are both ridiculously unsuitable.

I personally think that Ottawa/Edmonton/Calgary are some ways from having enough support for an MLS team right now. If I was wanting to invest in soccer in any of those cities I would start with a smaller stadium at a lower league and build a fanbase like Montreal and Vancouver did.

[Matty81]

Originally Posted by browna

The CSA has been a joke for the better part of past 2 decades.

Far too much red tape and politics. No clear leadership, or plan...therefore too much infighting, taking the program off on tangents, doing things half assed...all fracturing sides of the organization and various people and players getting fed up with the mismangement. That feeds down to grassroots, so those up and comers career goal maybe isn't necessarily to play for Canada.

With Canada's regional issues, and hoping to get the players playing overseas to buy into the organization, there needs to be a solid and clear plan, more friendly's, and more reason for both players to come back to play in those higher profile games, and, the increased experience the team gains from playing better (and more) opponents. It also showcases the game more within the country and gives youth a goal to acheive.

The CSA just approved a major structural change, not without some opposition;
http://www.cbc.ca/sports/blogs/jason...to-change.html

[browna]

Originally Posted by Sidney Crosby's Hat

They got into the fourth round in 1998:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1998_FI...%28CONCACAF%29

And in 1994, they were second only to Mexico and likely would have made it if it was 32 teams at that point. In fact, they were penalty kicks away from advancing after splitting two games 2-1 with Australia.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1994_FI...%28CONCACAF%29

Choked away 1998...Good in the group stages, but in the final round tying Jamica and Hondurus at home after get the doors blown off by the US and Mexico and that was it after 4 games of the 10 in that stage.

1994 was as close as possible, with a veteran team...had a chance against Mexico, at home, in the final game...win and they're in, and they tie the game. But lose that game, then onto Australia where they had the PK's (and TSN's feed went bad in extra time of that game) to get in.

Chicken and egg...the amount of money the CSA would've got from making the world cup is probably 20x thier current annual budget, which may have helped spurn more programs for youth and improved the program as a whole. Many of it also may have just got to waste with an inefficient management group heading the CSA at the time.

[Nehkara]

Thanks guys for all the great information. I would love to cheer for team Canada at the World Cup. Hopefully it happens sooner rather than later!

[Winsor_Pilates]

Can't see Calgary being close to MLS support, and even have some doubts about Vancouver. We all know how fair-weather the sports fans here can be, so I'm not 100% sure the Whitecaps will keep enough demand in the long run to be a big success. Hope it is though.