Canada to host Iran for men’s soccer friendly in Vancouver in June

Canada will host Iran in a friendly men’s soccer game on June 5th in Vancouver.

This match is part of a homestand that includes two games at B.C. Place Stadium. Place Stadium.

Canada is ranked 38th worldwide and No. 21 Iran are both getting ready for the FIFA World Cup Qatar in November.

Canada will play alongside Belgium, Croatia, Morocco and Morocco in Group F, while Iran is in group B with England and the U.S. (and a European playoff winner still being determined).

With an 8-2-4 record, the Canadians won the CONCACAF qualifying round. Their last game in CONCACAF qualifying was a 1-0 loss to Panama on March 30.

Canada’s record against Iran is 1-2-0. They won the latest encounter 1-0 in Cairo, April 2001. Iran scored 1-0 wins in the 1999 and 1997 games in Toronto, respectively.

One of a few World Cup warmups

John Herdman has only one World Cup warmup before Qatar. Herdman has saidHe plans to travel with the team to Europe this fall to play more matches in preparation for Qatar.

The Canadian men have played just two non-CONCACAF teams since Herdman took over in January 2018 — a 1-0 loss to Iceland in January 2020 and a 1-0 win over New Zealand in March 2018 in Herdman’s first game at the helm.

Herdman’s record against Canadian men is 29-8-4, with only losses to the U.S. (twice), Mexico, (twice), and Panama.

Canada begins World Cup play Nov. 23, against No. 2 Belgium before facing No. 16 Croatia on Nov. 27, and No. 24 Morocco on December 1.