They’re still without a full-time head coach, but the Canadian national team has another game on the docket in preparation for this summer’s CONCACAF Gold Cup. Canada will face Costa Rica in a friendly on May 28 at Edmonton’s Commonwealth Stadium, the Canadian Soccer Association announced on Tuesday.
The match will mark Canada’s fifth game of the year after last month’s friendly losses to Japan and Belarus in Qatar left them winless – three losses and one draw (with the United States) – in 2013.
“We are pleased to bring this match against Costa Rica to the passionate western Canada soccer community,” CSA president Victor Montagliani said in a press release. “This match, which will serve as great preparation for the men’s national team in the lead-up to this summer’s Gold Cup, is the result of the strong relationships the association has been able to build with other CONCACAF nations.”
READ: MLS Academies dominate Canada's U-17 World Cup qualifying roster
It’s still unknown who will lead the Canadians, however, who have been without a full-time head coach since Stephen Hart stepped down last December. Colin Miller and Tony Fonseca have both served as interim coaches since then.
While Canada will use the game as part of their Gold Cup preparations, Costa Rica will be getting ready to host Honduras in World Cup qualifying in a game that takes place the following week. The last time the two teams met was at the 2009 Gold Cup when they played to a 2-2 draw at FIU Stadium in Miami.
The May friendly also marks the first time in five years that the Canucks will host a game outside Ontario or Quebec. The last time was a 2-2 draw with Mexico in a World Cup qualifier in October 2008, also at Commonwealth Stadium.
