(Toronto) Canada is 90 minutes away from participating in the 2024 Copa America as it enters the second leg of the CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinals with home-field advantage on Thursday.
Canada, ranked 45th in the world, defeated the 55th-ranked “Reggae Boyz” 2-1 in the rain-delayed first leg Saturday in Kingston, Jamaica.
The Canadians are in the midst of a record 17-game losing streak (15-0-2) at home since a 3-0 loss to Mexico in March 2016 in World Cup qualifying at Vancouver.
Canada’s last match at BMO Field in Toronto took place in June, with a 2-2 draw against Guadeloupe in the Gold Cup.
Canada and Jamaica trained at BMO Field on Monday in very different weather conditions from the first leg. It was zero degrees Celsius, with a felt temperature of minus three, when the Canadians took the field around 4 p.m.
The Jamaicans trained in the morning.
The winners of the Nations League quarter-finals will qualify for the Copa America as guest teams. The losers will face a single-elimination tournament for the final two tickets to the 16-team Copa America in the United States next summer.
Competing in the Copa America involves clashes against elite teams from outside CONCACAF, which covers North America, Central America and the Caribbean. Canadians desperately need it before co-hosting the 2026 World Cup.
Of the 10 CONMEBOL teams that will be at the Copa America, seven are currently ranked higher than Canada, including reigning World Cup champions Argentina (first) and Brazil (third).
“It’s a very important tournament,” admitted Canadian midfielder Stephen Eustaquio, who scored the winning goal on Saturday. In the locker room, we know what a big tournament it is. Canada fans probably don’t know the value of the Copa America, but for me, in terms of passion, quality and intensity, it is probably one of the best tournaments in the world. »
If all goes well on Thursday, the Canadians will know their schedule for the international windows in March (Nations League finals) and June and July (Copa America). Interim head coach Mauro Biello said there was no information yet on possible matches before the Copa America.
Due to Canada Soccer’s financial difficulties, the men did not participate in the September international window and played only one match in October, which ended in a 4–1 loss to Japan .
Eustaquio, FC Porto player in Portugal, was clear about his feelings about this situation.
“It’s difficult to create momentum when all CONCACAF tournaments take place outside of Canada,” he said. In September we didn’t have any matches. In October, a road game. Obviously, we like playing at home better than on the road. »
Jamaica will have to make do without West Ham star Michail Antonio as the striker left Saturday’s match due to injury.
Press reports in England have reported that Antonio has returned to the UK for tests, with West Ham bosses said to be angry that he played more than 10 minutes.
While the Canadians had the ball longer, the Jamaicans had chances, as Aston Villa’s Leon Bailey missed three chances, including one hitting the post. Jamaica head coach Heimir Hallgrimsson said Bailey was playing through pain, with visible stitches on his leg.
Biello, for his part, indicated that all his players were ready to play.
Canada, Mexico, USA and Costa Rica earned byes to the Nations League quarterfinals. Panama, Jamaica, Honduras and Trinidad and Tobago had to qualify.
The United States (11th) advanced to the semi-finals despite a 2-1 defeat against Trinidad and Tobago (99th) on Monday, with a cumulative score of 4-2.
Honduras (78th) surprised Mexico (12th) 2-0 while Panama (44th) blanked Costa Rica (46th) 3-0 in the first legs of the other quarter-finals.
Canada has a lifetime record of 11-6-7 against Jamaica. During their last duel at BMO Field, he qualified for the World Cup with a 4-0 victory in March 2022.
The Nations League Finals are scheduled for March 21-24 at AT
