Canada Soccer names 13-player roster for men’s para World Cup

Canada Soccer has released its 13-player roster in preparation for the 2022 International Federation of Cerebral Parsy Football Men’s World Cup (IFCPF) in Salou Spain.

Canada’s squad, which includes five new members, is veteran-laden.

Highlighted by the additions are 15-year-old Isaiah Smeaton Kazenberg, who will become the youngest Canadian player to compete in an IFCPF international competition.

“We are very excited to have qualified for the 2022 IFCPF Men’s World Cup in Salou, Spain,” saidDrew Ferguson, Canada Soccer’s para soccer team head coach, in a statement. “We are in a very tough group with England, Netherlands, and Venezuela, but this is an important test as we build our program and try to sneak an upset or two. We are also taking some new players that have never played at this level before, so it will be a great learning experience for them.”

From April 27 to May 16, 2022, the IFCPF Men’s World Cup for Men will be held. Canada will face England in the group stage on May 5. The Netherlands will play Canada on May 5. Canada will then face Venezuela on May 7.

The event will feature 15 countries competing, divided into four groups with Canada in Group A. Eight teams will reach the quarterfinals, while seven other teams will make it to the seeding rounds.

Here’s the complete list of 13 Canadian operatives:

Lucas Bruno, 25, Calgary; Samuel Charron, 24, Ottawa; Yuri Costa, 28, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Dante Del Cul, 20, Kitchener, Ont.; Shaun Etherington 31 Calgary and Plainfield, Ill. ; Chris Fawcett 31, Kingston, Ont.; Diego Gilbert, 20, Toronto; Nicholas Heffernan, 23, London, Ont.’ Duncan McDonald’s, 21, Powell River. B.C.; Denis McGrath, 25, Cincinnati, Ohio; Isaiah Smeaton-Katzenberg, 15, Toronto; Ryan Watson, 22, Montreal; Damien Wojtiw, 40, Toronto.

This report was published by The Canadian Press April 22, 2022.