If the qualifying format suggested by CONCACAF is approved, Canada will have to play 2 home matches against fairly weak opposition. I was wondering when/where those matches are likely to be played?
I believe WCQ could start next spring. I would be surprised if any of the first round games are played in Edmonton. Perhaps Vancouver or Victoria? Montreal could host a game... I was also wondering what city is going to host to Olympic qualifier vs US Virgin Islands?
I was just considering the possibility of a match being played in St. John's. If it were late enough in the spring (say May-June), the weather would be fair enough. I know we have the fan-base... there were 7-8000 at the St. Lawrence v Manitoba match a couple months back. The only problem would be I'm not certain that the stands are up to FIFA standards. At King George V, they are almost all temporary seats, and I know there were big problems with this kind of seating in Lansdowne Road (Dublin) during WC qualifying which led to a stadium that usually seats 50,000 being reduced to a stadium that could only seat 35,000. If FIFA wouldn't allow this kind of seating, then a match here would be completely out of the question.
I'm not sure what FIFA's definition of temporary seating is, but the Winnipeg Soccer Complex is three sides of bleachers. All of which could be moved if need be. It's not a proper stand in any event. I don't know how that compares to King George V. Have they set dates for the first round? I thought it was supposed to be as early as Feb/March? That doesn't leave many options. Though Vancouver deserves a game and is overdue to host one. The OQ first home-and-away is late Feb as well right? With the WC draw in Germany in early December that doesn't leave a lot of time to get organized. I don't know about anyone else, but I'm tempted to go to one of the road games as much as I am tempted to travel to one or the other Canadian coasts. Unless they pick a prairie venue, the road game is probably easier to get to and far warmer. cheers, hobbes
I hope not. Surely Concacaf must realize that this conflicts with the World Cup qualifying. I don't ever recall Olympic & World Cup qualifying conflicting in the past - the former was normally completed by the time the latter started. If they need to begin World Cup qualifying earlier, they should hold the Olympic qualifying earlier - such as in the autumn of 2003.
The early WCQ rounds were around the same time as Olympic qualifying in 2000---Trinidad had a WCQ March 18, hosted an Olympic qualifying group March 21-25, and played another WCQ April 2. Other Caribbean and Central American teams had the same situation.
Typical US soccer "fan". Supporting your country doesn't matter if you don't think they'll qualify. (We won't mention the spelling error or bad grammar!)
Why not play some games up in Edmonton? They were the home of the old NASL Drillers, yes? Hmm... Canada v just about any team in the wintertime in Edmonton... HAS to be big time advantage for Canada. Remember the USA v Mexico match in Columbus? The Mexican's were too cold to play. lol Cheers...
A good portion of the Canadian WCQ's during the past two qualifying campaigns have been played in Edmonton. As of now, it is our best option.
Please gentleman, don't feed the trolls. Though I do believe that the homosexuals I know do more than pull their own weight in their spending habits and do support our economy. I don't think we need to resort to playing in chilly Edmonton in March (it may in fact, not even be that cold) for the first round. I would rather have a decent pitch, somewhere tolerable (the west coast is the best option) and a pitch that isn't a quagmire to try to beat what should be inferior opposition. Nevermind that most of our team will be based in Europe and the winter temps won't be too welcoming for them either (obviously more of a shock to the system of the tropical opponents, but still). It depends on the dates, but I think Vancouver and Victoria are our best bets for the first round. If it's into April then we can play pretty much anywhere, but I would stick to smaller venues that haven't had a game in awhile - Montreal, Vancouver, perhaps St. John. Maybe Winnipeg or Victoria, though Mtl and Van are more due. cheers, hobbes
What troll? The one who got his message deleted? Good to see that when you report abuse it gets acted upon!
Yeah, good job mods. Though my response regarding the Canadian economy and how it relates to our sexual preference now makes less sense than it did in context. cheers, hobbes
Before it was deleted, halfnelson31 was explanining his theory that Canada's collective homosexuality was to blame for our poor economy. I believe he said: "Ur all a bunch of ************s, thats y ur economy is such s*it." I'm paraphrasing and there was some other straw man material before and after his economic theory. But my immediate response was that actually the homosexuals I know spend more freely than I would consider the norm. So I was arguing against Mr. halfnelson31s assertion. And I was being silly. cheers, hobbes P.S. Gordon, are you going to the Calgary/Vancouver game?
Sorry Hobbes, I should have put a smilie afterwards...I was just trying to have a bit of fun at your later post about how the comment you made would seem bizarre with the troll's post removed. And I am going to the Calgary Vancover game. Tickets will be available in April and I've had the Storm put me on a contact list for when they are available.