With Sunday’s results in the books, the Canadian Men’s National Team remains the only undefeated team in the Concacaf standings with seven points, one behind the U.S. and four points behind first-place Mexico. They will host tied-for-second-place Panama at Major League Soccer’s BMO Field in Toronto. The U.S. Men’s National Team lost to Panama 1-0 in Panama City on Sunday.
“I think coming into this match, if there is any game we have got to win to really set the tone, it’s this one,” John Herdman, Canada’s head coach stated after Tuesday’s training session. “I feel like this is a six-point match for Canada given where the standings are, but more importantly, where I think Panama are going to be by the end of this journey. I think these are one of the genuine threats for a top-three place.” Team Canada will host the next three qualifying games in Canada.
Rapids’ midfielder Mark-Anthony Kaye earned his second consecutive start during the Reds’ scoreless draw with Jamaica at Independence Park in Kingston Sunday night. He entered the match with a yellow card; however, evaded another during his play. Kaye has 7 assists and 2 goals in 28 appearances for the high potential Canadian team that is full of talented MLS and European players. It will be a coach’s decision whether or not the gritty Kaye will start again or come off the bench.
Eight teams are in the pool: the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Panama, Jamaica, Costa Rica, Honduras, El Salvador. The remaining games will be played throughout the Concacaf region in round-robin, home and away fashion during a seven-month period that concludes next March. The top three teams will qualify for the FIFA World Cup play, while the fourth-place team will advance to an intercontinental playoff.
How to Watch: Canada vs Panama
Match Date/Time: October 13 at 5:30 p.m. MT
Venue: BMO Field — Toronto, Canada
TV Information: Paramount+