Edmonton to host Canada friendly match vs. Uzbekistan before FIFA World Cup begins

Fans, cheers for Team Canada as they take on Costa Rica during World Cup qualifier soccer action in Edmonton on Friday, November 12, 2021 (The Canadian Press/Jason Franson).

Canada’s men’s soccer team is coming to Edmonton this June for a World Cup tune-up match.

The team will meet Uzbekistan in an international friendly on June 1 as it prepares for the FIFA World Cup 2026 being hosted by Canada, the United States and Mexico.

Tickets go on sale on Jan. 23.

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The match at Commonwealth Stadium is the first men’s national team game at the venue since a frigid 2-1 win over Mexico in November 2021 in a World Cup qualifier.

The FIFA World Cup, which features 48 men’s national teams competing to be crowned global champions, starts June 11 and will be played in 16 cities: 11 in the U.S., three in Mexico and two – Toronto and Vancouver – in Canada.

Midfielder Richie Laryea recalled that 2021 experience in Edmonton, saying the support the team felt from the crowd of 44,212 “was one of the biggest factors as to why we were able to win the game.”

“Feeling the love from the people there definitely helped a lot,” said Laryea, who plays professionally for Toronto FC of Major League Soccer.

The June 1 game with Uzbekistan would be a homecoming for Canada captain Alphonso Davies, an Edmonton native, who could well be playing two days before in the final for the UEFA Champions League for his German club team, Bayern Munich.

Head coach Jesse Marsch said he isn’t concerned that Davies and others who may be playing in the final being held in Budapest, Hungary, would miss the Edmonton game.

“I can’t imagine a world where, even after that, he doesn’t find a way to get to Edmonton as soon as possible,” Marsch said.

“As our captain, and at home in Edmonton, we’re going to make sure that Alphonso’s there and that he’s on the pitch at some point.”

Crews will install a grass pitch in the stadium for the game, but it’s unclear if it will remain afterward. The Edmonton Elks of the Canadian Football League call the stadium home. Their 2026 slate of action begins May 29 with an exhibition home game followed by a regular-season date on June 20.

Edmonton Mayor Andrew Knack told media during Wednesday’s media conference that the city is “working out” details with the Elks.

A spokesperson said it’s likely most of the $500,000 the city is providing in sponsorship funding is going toward work on the grass field.

With files from CTV News Edmonton’s Jeremy Thompson