U-20 MNT Set to Travel to Canada in July for Two Matches

Matches slated for Toronto and Kingston

CHICAGO (June 1, 2006) - The U.S. Under-20 Mens National Team will travel to Canada in July to face their northern rivals twice during a weeklong training camp. The U.S. will arrive on July 3 and face the Canadian U-20 Mens National Team on July 7 in Toronto at Rogers Centre (formerly SkyDome) in Toronto at 7:30pm ET.

Two days later, on July 9, the teams will battle once again, this time in Richardson Stadium at Queens University in Kingston, Ontario, at 7:00 p.m. ET (tentatively scheduled). Head coach Thomas Rongen will announce the roster for the trip in late June.

Overall, the U.S. has beaten Canada by one goal in each of their last four meetings since 2003. The last meeting between the two CONCACAF rivals took place last year in Blaine, Minn., ahead of the FIFA U-20 World Championship in Holland. The U.S. fell behind early after a goal from Will Johnson, but bounced back with goals from Eddie Gaven and Freddy Adu to pull out a 2-1 victory.

The U.S. is coming off a successful 10-day training camp in Argentina this past April where they went 1-1-1 during the trip. The U.S. drew, 2-2, against Arsenal de Sarandi U-20 in their first match on April 22, getting goals from Preston Zimmerman and Dax McCarty. Two days later, the U-20s defeated River Plate U-20, 1-0, on a goal by forward David Arvizu. In their first international match of the year on April 26, the U.S. fell to Argentina, 4-0.

Canada just wrapped up a three-game, tri-city series against the Brazil U-20 Mens National Team. Canada defeated Brazil, 2-1, in the series opener in Edmonton, before losing the next two in Victoria and Vancouver by the same 3-1 score line.

Canada will host the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup from June 30-July 22 (tentative dates) across six cities Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Edmonton, Burnaby, and Victoria. The biennial event is second only to the FIFA World Cup in size and scope and will showcase the most talented youth soccer players in the world.

Additonal information provided to us from the Southest Ontario Soccer Association regarding the match in Kingston:

  • Sunday, July 9, 2006 @7:00 pm
  • George Richardson Stadium, Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario
  • Tickets: $12.00 General Admission/$19.00 Reserved Sideline/$29.00 Reserved Centre Gold
  • General Admission tickets avail. through Southeast Ontario Soccer Assoc. 613.546.6642
  • Reserved tickets avail. on line at www.WhatsonKingston.com and www.queensu.ca