Canada’s head coach, Jesse Marsch, is organizing a 10-day training camp in California for North American players in preparation for an upcoming friendly match against Guatemala. The camp is scheduled to take place from January 8 to 18 in Irvine, California, with the game against Guatemala set for January 17 at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles.
Given that European-based players are occupied with club competitions, this camp is specifically designed for North American players who are currently out of season. The upcoming Guatemala match will be recognized as a Tier 1 international fixture and will contribute to the FIFA men’s world rankings, as confirmed by Canada Soccer.
Canada is seeking redemption against Guatemala following their elimination from the Gold Cup in June, where they suffered a heartbreaking 6-5 penalty shootout defeat in the quarterfinals. Despite finishing level at 1-1 after regular time, Canada was reduced to 10 men when Jacob Shaffelburg received a red card in stoppage time of the first half.
The Canadian men’s historical record against Guatemala stands at 10 wins, 2 losses, and 3 draws, with their recent Gold Cup encounter resulting in a loss. Both previous defeats to Guatemala occurred during World Cup qualifying matches in 2004 and 1998.
With limited FIFA international windows in March and June before the World Cup commences on June 11, the January camp presents an important opportunity for Marsch to work with his players. Marsch emphasized the significance of the camp in providing a platform for North American players to enhance their skills and maintain match fitness ahead of the upcoming season.
Canada, currently ranked 27th globally, is set to kick off their World Cup campaign on June 12 at BMO Field in Toronto against the winner of a European playoff match.