By the time the next FIFA international fixture date rolls around, it will have been exactly a year since the Canadian national team tasted victory. And if recent reports are to be believed, their next chance to break the spell will come against a team that has already qualified for the 2014 World Cup.
Canada will next face Australia in a friendly to be held in London on Oct. 16, according to multiple reports emerging from Down Under last week. One report suggested the venue for the match would be at Craven Cottage, the home ground of English Premier League side Fulham FC.
The match was also listed on the fixture list on FIFA's official website.
The Canadian Soccer Association offered the following when asked about the reports by MLSsoccer.com:
“As it is our custom and policy, we do not announce international matches until agreements are reached and signed between federations,” said CSA spokeswoman Michele Dion. “I can tell you that we are working on more international friendlies for our men’s national team, which will be announced as soon as they are confirmed.”
If the reports are true, it would be an interesting matchup between the Canadians and a team led by the man who led them to their last major success – Australia head coach Holger Osieck helmed Canada to the 2000 CONCACAF Gold Cup title.
Things for the Canadians have been decidedly less rosy since then, especially in the past year. They failed to win a single game in this past summer’s Gold Cup, nor did they score a goal. On Wednesday, they wrapped up a 10-day camp in Spain under new head coach Benito Floro with a 1-0 loss to Mauritania.
Canada's last win was a 3-0 World Cup qualifying victory over Cuba on Oct. 12, 2012. They are winless in 11 matches since then and are No. 91 in the most recent FIFA world rankings.
Australia, meanwhile, clinched their third straight World Cup berth last month and are currently at No. 46 in the FIFA rankings.
