Canada’s head coach, Jesse Marsch, has organized a 10-day January training camp in California for North American-based players in preparation for a friendly match against Guatemala. The camp is scheduled to take place from January 8 to 18 in Irvine, California, with the game against the 94th-ranked Guatemala set for January 17 at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles.
Given that European-based players are engaged in domestic club competitions, the camp is specifically designed for out-of-season North American players. The upcoming match against Guatemala is designated as a Tier 1 international fixture and will contribute to the FIFA men’s world rankings, as confirmed by Canada Soccer.
The Canadian team is seeking redemption against Guatemala following their elimination from the Gold Cup in June, where they suffered a 6-5 penalty shootout defeat in the quarterfinals in Minneapolis. The game ended in a 1-1 draw after regular time, with Canada playing with 10 men due to Jacob Shaffelburg’s first-half stoppage time red card.
In previous encounters with 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 Canadian men’s team had suffered defeats against Guatemala in World Cup qualifying matches in August 2004 in Burnaby, B.C., and in October 1998 in Guatemala City.
With only two FIFA international windows available before the World Cup commences on June 11, the January camp provides Coach Marsch with an opportunity to work with his players. Marsch emphasized the significance of the camp in fostering player development and maintaining match fitness ahead of the upcoming season.
The Canadian team, currently ranked 27th in the world, will kick off their World Cup campaign on June 12 at Toronto’s BMO Field against the winner of a European playoff.
