To add some thoughts I have: Our pyramid is finally being built out. We have strong Div 3 leagues in Ontario, Quebec and now BC. The Prairies and Atlantic Canada are considering doing the same. There is now a proper player pathway for many young players in this country in the from of Div 3/University -> CPL -> other Pro Leagues. In the past, once players turned 18, the dream was pretty much dead. There was no way to get noticed or have a realistic shot at a professional career. It didnt matter how good you were. Some Canadian CPL players have moved on to the Scottish Premier League, Poland Div 1, France D2, English L1, L2 etc. Mo Farsi would never be the starting RB for Columbus Crew without the CPL. The level of play can always improve, but the stated goal of the CPL is to provide opportunities for the Canadian player. Without a league, it doesn't happen. Aside from the players, we are also expanding our coaching pool, and building the culture within Canada, but its hard. It's a very big, sparsely populated country competing against summer vacations and established sports/recreation time. Our players are going to continue to improve. Show me any league in year #5 and I'll point out some bad patches of play at times within that league. We still desperately need a team in the province of Quebec. Once that happens, and maybe another stable club gets added somewhere else, I'll feel very comfortable with where we are at. The CPL is going to develop some really good young players. The economics/financial viability of the league will never be easy.
The "many" you're talking about are mainly already MLS fans or casuals from those markets. The rest (over 2/3 of Canadians) have either low or no interest in MLS. CPL is sanctioned as the top league in the country, it's not a matter of what "it wants to classify itself as" - it just is. However, the league and the club have to grow the interest into the sport in non-traditional markets where soccer was always an afterthought but there was always that understanding that it would take time. Also, Bell and Rogers are doing their absolute best to block the distribution of CPL on traditional cable while blacking out reporting on the league from major spors channels which they also own. Bell and Rogers happens to own 80% of TFC and MLSE. The league have it sets of challenges and obstacles to overcome - it will take time.
Results speak for themselves. CPL has yield more results for the program in less than 5 years than USL has in decades. I guess I could leave it at that but I'll add that judging an entire league on the last 20 minutes won't give you the true picture of the league. Top clubs have done very well in CONCACAF against Central American clubs getting results in away games while being competitive against much stronger clubs
Don't be so strong headed. The CPL gets to easily qualify for Concacaf competition, the USL does not. Many USL teams would consistently beat out CPL teams not named Forge or Pacific. This bravado and chest puffing on here aren't helpful. It's fine to be proud of the team/league you support but that doesn't mean you have to dump on other teams/leagues.
Because one's a D1 league meeting both CSA and Concacaf standards and the other isn't. Nothing's stopping USL from getting a D1 sanction but they aren't. It isn't about being "strong headed" - just facts So? Many championship clubs could rountinely beats SPL clubs not named Celtic or Rangers. Is SPL any less a D1 in your opinion? Leagues where top 2/3 clubs are much stronger than the rest of the league is common in football, not parity - something ironically the league was striving for and we're still a top 2/3 clubs with the rest. It isn't bravado if it's factual I'm all ears if you want to defend USL's legacy in Canada but that would put you in the minority if you think their contribution was better than what CPL is doing now. I'm not saying USL is a bad league, I'm saying it was a bad fit in Canada and CPL works better in Canada - big difference
My understanding is Canada is calling him but it’s not clear whether he’s accepting. We’ll find out soon.
I guess I don’t think it’s news that Canada is calling him for their roster. Of course they are as this is someone they want to recruit. The question is more whether he wants to switch and ultimately I just don’t think he will.
Vancouver Whitecaps are donating a portion of their ticket sales to the Canadian Championship final to a fund they have seup to help the BC League One teams host Canadian Championship games next year.
AO decided to send in their 3 missing weeks. April 29 vs York 3074, May 6 vs Pacific 3499, & May 27 vs Forge 4520
I don’t know if this is for budget reasons but Canada doesn’t appear to be starting their Nations League camp till the 11th, 4 days before the competition.
Canada coach John Herdman: ‘We can win the World Cup with Canada in 2026’ https://theathletic.com/4590389/2023/06/07/canada-john-herdman-nations-league/
With a crop of young talent plying their trade in Europe, the USMNT believe they have a real chance at WINNING the World Cup https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/f...lieve-real-chance-winning-World-Cup-2026.html Equally ridiculous - feel better now?
The USA actually has a real chance though. USA has actually won multiple Gold Cups at home and made it to a Semi of the Copa America Centenario at home. Now I am not going to say the USA will win the 2026 World Cup but Quarters is doable and Semis can absolutely happen as well. Canada? Come on now. Would be an accomplishment to make it out of the Groupe stage. Canada has a chance to make it out of the Round of 32 at home... ... maybe. But then round of 16 against very good opponents who will probably out support them in the stands since there's no Canadain fans in the USA? I mean come on now. Canada has to find a way to win a Nations League or real Gold Cup before they make such claims without me laughing.
There are no quotes from U.S. staff or players in that article about winning the World Cup. Not that there’s anything wrong with confidence, though. Of course all the hosts will be talking a big game. But there will be some different expectations in general in regards to the three.
Realistically neither Canada or the US will win the 2026 World Cup. Neither has the talent that World Cup winning teams do. But both can hope for their best ever finish playing on home soil and being put in Pot A (which should result in an easier group for both). And both should show improvement talent wise between now and 2026.
Neither have realistic chances of winning the World Cup, we aren't at that level and please don't use the "Gold Cup" as an argument to reinforce your point - it's pointless, this applies to Mexico as well. As for the rest...
Now you back track and move the goalposts. You said it was equally as ridiculous. It really isn't. I bring up Gold Cups cause I find it hilarious the Canadian manager says he can win a World Cup when I do not even see him winning a Gold Cup.