2016 Canada pre-Olympic friendlies/FIFA dates (after Algarve)

[Olympique_de_Marseille]

http://www.fifa.com/mm/document/tournament/competition/02/46/23/89/internationalcalendar2015-2016_e_neutral.pdf

FIFA dates:
April 4th to 12th
May 30th to June 7th
July 20th -> until the start of the Olympics on August 3rd

My bet is that we will play a home friendly at BMO Field. Why?

1) The CanWNT played a pre-Olympic friendly at home last time (twas in Moncton vs China).

2) The CSA needs to play at BMO every year or lose 100 thousand dollars and the CanMNT may not play there this year. http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2012/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-44376.pdf

3) Toronto didn't get a CanWNT game in 2015 because of Pan-Ams. (Hamilton doesn't count)

What does everyone else think?

 

 

[Olympique_de_Marseille]

Well done CSA on getting a friendly with the Netherlands in April. http://www.canadasoccer.com/canada-wnt-to-face-netherlands-in-april-p159264-preview-1

As hosts of the EURO, they don't have to play qualifying games in April so the options were limited.

So we have:

April FIFA dates -> Netherlands

May/June FIFA dates Brazil x2

 

The "July 20th -> until the start of the Olympics on August 3rd" friendly will only be set once the draw is done IMO.

 

[Olympique_de_Marseille]

On 3/15/2016 at 9:03 PM, Olympique_de_Marseille said:

The "July 20th -> until the start of the Olympics on August 3rd" friendly will only be set once the draw is done IMO.

There was a big data leak at US Soccer. Included in that was a plan to play 2 home friendlies in July before the Olympics:

http://equalizersoccer.com/2016/03/07/monday-roundup-uswnt-budget-canada-in-algarve-final/

Just like 4 years ago, I think we will play the USA on their turf. Likely during the pre-tournament window in late July. Belanger told Canada Soccer the two Brazil games were the only two home games prior to the Olympics:

With Zika concerns, and the logistics of playing "non-qualified" teams in Brazil, it would make sense to me to have a training camp somewhere hot in the USA prior to flying down.

[Olympique_de_Marseille]

On 4/14/2016 at 9:06 PM, Olympique_de_Marseille said:

There was a big data leak at US Soccer. Included in that was a plan to play 2 home friendlies in July before the Olympics:

http://equalizersoccer.com/2016/03/07/monday-roundup-uswnt-budget-canada-in-algarve-final/

Just like 4 years ago, I think we will play the USA on their turf. Likely during the pre-tournament window in late July. Belanger told Canada Soccer the two Brazil games were the only two home games prior to the Olympics:

 

The Washington Post is saying the two home friendlies the US will play are July 8/9th & July 23/24th.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/soccer-insider/wp/2016/04/19/tuesday-kickaround-uswnt-copa-america-tv-listings-fun-liverpool-video/

The NWSL don't have to release players until July 20th. I'm still betting we're going to play the USWNT on the weekend of July 23/24th. It may even be in Utah like last time because both Real Salt Lake and the Monarchs (USL) are playing on the Friday night.

[Olympique_de_Marseille]

On 4/28/2016 at 0:47 PM, Olympique_de_Marseille said:

I'm still betting we're going to play the USWNT on the weekend of July 23/24th.

This is still my theory. If we play the USWNT on that weekend, the rumour is it would be at RFK Stadium in Washington DC. DC United play at BMO Field that weekend. The USWNT will play in early July somewhere in the Midwest.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/us-womens-national-soccer-team-likely-heading-to-rfk-for-final-olympic-tuneup/2016/05/15/f0405c1e-1ad4-11e6-b6e0-c53b7ef63b45_story.html

[Blackdude]

Canada will play France in Auxerre on July 23rd.

 

[nstarsfan]

Does anyone know when both US and Canada will announce their July games?  I'm trying to decide on the June games and if July ends up being in US against the US, I might prefer that travel.  It seems lame they don't announce more than six weeks in advance.

[Olympique_de_Marseille]

On 5/21/2016 at 2:22 PM, nstarsfan said:

Does anyone know when both US and Canada will announce their July games?  I'm trying to decide on the June games and if July ends up being in US against the US, I might prefer that travel.  It seems lame they don't announce more than six weeks in advance.

No idea. We are playing France in Auxerre July 23rd - the USA will play somebody else that weekend - likely in Washington DC.

We still may be playing the USA July 9/10th in "that Midwest City TBD" - maybe the CSA reserve the right to pull their allocated players out of their NWSL teams outside FIFA windows because they are paying their salary? That would mean either a mini camp in early July before the main one later in the month because there are NWSL games July 16th and 17th. Or a super long camp and the CanWNT players miss those games too? Somehow I doubt we are the opponent for early July because of the crazy travel/NWSL games missed involved...

 

[nstarsfan]

I live in the Midwest so it would be perfect for me.  I imagine the city is Chicago.

[LeanneMac]

The games in Toronto and Ottawa seem to be selling really well! 85% sold at BMO and 70% at TD place. Anyone making it out to these games?

[rob.notenboom]

9 hours ago, LeanneMac said:

The games in Toronto and Ottawa seem to be selling really well! 85% sold at BMO and 70% at TD place. Anyone making it out to these games?

Oddly it seems that Supporters Section tickets aren't going that well. The Vs might be reduced to sec 113 only. 

[Olympique_de_Marseille]

On 5/20/2016 at 4:09 PM, Blackdude said:

Canada will play France in Auxerre on July 23rd.

Details from the FFF : http://www.fff.fr/actualites/171632-578672-chine-et-canada-sur-la-route-des-bleues

and from the CSA: http://www.canadasoccer.com/canada-s-women-s-national-team-to-play-les-bleues-23-july-in-auxerre-france-p159542

[LeanneMac]

On May 25, 2016 at 9:10 PM, rob.notenboom said:

Oddly it seems that Supporters Section tickets aren't going that well. The Vs might be reduced to sec 113 only. 

That sucks!

[Olympique_de_Marseille]

On 5/22/2016 at 0:39 AM, Olympique_de_Marseille said:

We still may be playing the USA July 9/10th in "that Midwest City TBD" ... Somehow I doubt we are the opponent for early July because of the crazy travel/NWSL games missed involved...

 

On 5/22/2016 at 11:16 AM, nstarsfan said:

I live in the Midwest so it would be perfect for me.  I imagine the city is Chicago.

The US is playing South Africa on Saturday July 9th. http://www.ussoccer.com/stories/2016/05/26/13/26/160526-wnt-to-play-south-africa-at-soldier-field-in-chicago-on-july-9

So we won't play a prep game against them I guess!

[tc-in-bc]

The  ussoccer.com  article does not provide any details ( opponent, venue, date -- July 23/24 ? )  about the second US Olympic send-off friendly:

           "  Following the game in Chicago, the U.S. team will take a final break and then regroup for a last match prior to traveling to Brazil. The details of that game will be announced shortly  "

So,  CANWNT vs the USWNT, could still  be a possibilty, though not played in Canada.

[tc-in-bc]

" John Molinaro ‏@JohnMolinaro 4h4 hours ago

Herdman says it hasn't been announced but #canWNT will play China in closed door game next month in France prior to the friendly vs French."

[ 1 ]        This makes sense.  France  ( Les Bleues ) play China ( Steel Roses ) one week before Canada, on July 16, 2016  in Paris. Given that both nations are conveniently in France at the same time ; there's an opportunity to play each other.       https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YUdIQzF1b8A

Sidenote. Except for the end graphic, this is the exact same teaser that FFF used to promote the Canada game -- a bit amusing.

[ 2 ]    Really like Wang Shuang: 

                       https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QUxK9CxTNNo

[tc-in-bc]

The final US women's soccer pre-Olympic send-off match  is against  Costa Rica on July 22, 2016  . So no final pre-Olympic CANWNT vs USWNT send-off  match  -- played anywhere.