Canadian soccer ready to embrace its future

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First in a series that explores Canadian soccer

Over the next few days — and ahead of the league welcoming its second Canadian franchise, the Vancouver Whitecaps, into the fold — MLSsoccer.com will explore the state of Canadian soccer — where it's been, where it's at and where it's going. Here, Toronto FC beat writer Duane Rollins looks at Canada's recent struggles at the national team level and presents some ideas for moving the program forward.

The past 10 years have been wholly forgettable for the Canadian national team, and there are fears things won't improve anytime soon. However, a grassroots movement has sprung hope that a new generation of quality players will return Canada to the world stage.

Just a decade ago, though, it seemed Canadian soccer as a whole was on an upward trajectory.


www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/canadian-soccer-ready-embrace-its-future

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Lenarduzzi: MLS academies will benefit Canada

'Caps president says national program should see results by 2018


Over the next few days — and ahead of the league welcoming its second Canadian franchise, the Vancouver Whitecaps, into the fold — MLSsoccer.com will explore the state of Canadian soccer — where it's been, where it's at and where it's going. On Tuesday we looked at the national team's recent struggles and presented some ideas for moving the program forward. Here, Vancouver Whitecaps president Bob Lenarduzzi takes it a step further and suggests MLS' academy systems will be wholly beneficial to Canadian soccer.

Uruguay, a country of approximately 3.5 million people with 42,000 registered soccer players, came within one win of playing in the FIFA World Cup final this past summer. Yet Canada, with 10 times the population and more than 800,000 registered soccer players, sat at home and watched for the sixth consecutive time.

www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/lenarduzzi-mls-academies-will-benefit-canada

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Canada finds home in MLS after unsettled past

Top-tier league providing stabilty for Canadian clubs, players

Over the next few days — and ahead of the league welcoming its second Canadian franchise, the Vancouver Whitecaps, into the fold — MLSsoccer.com will explore the state of Canadian soccer — where it's been, where it's at and where it's going. On Wednesday, Vancouver Whitecaps president Bob Lenarduzzi suggested MLS' academy systems will benefit Canadian soccer. Here, Whitecaps beat writer Brandon Timko looks at the past — and future — of domestic soccer in Canada.

In 1986 Dionne Warwick was topping the charts with her hit single “That’s What Friends Are For,” Tom Cruise was starring in “Top Gun” and the Canadian men’s national soccer team was in Mexico participating in the FIFA World Cup.

Much has changed since then.

Twenty-four years later and Warwick is now a United Nations Global Ambassador, Cruise is a scientologist and the Canadian men are constant underachievers on soccer’s world stage.

www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/canada-finds-home-mls-after-unsettled-past

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For Canada, Brazil '14 may come too soon
Depth issues could be resolved with stronger youth development


Over the past few days — and ahead of the league welcoming its second Canadian franchise, the Vancouver Whitecaps, into the fold — MLSsoccer.com has been exploring the state of Canadian soccer — where it's been, where it's at and where it's going. Here, Toronto FC beat writer Duane Rollins takes a look at the national team and its prospects for qualifying for the 2014 World Cup and beyond.

TORONTO — If qualifying for the World Cup was as simple as lining up Canada’s best 11 players against the rest of the region, former Canadian international Jason deVos has little doubt that the Canucks will be in Brazil in 2014.

Unfortunately, there is a bit more to it than that.

“Our Best XI matches up with anyone in the region,” deVos said, “but we really struggle with depth. As soon as there are a few injuries, we are in trouble.”

DeVos’ opinion is echoed by most close observers of the game in Canada. Making it to Brazil is viewed as a long-shot, at best. Some high-profile commentators have even gone so far as to call the task impossible more than a year away from the start of qualifying.

www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/canada-brazil-14-may-come-too-soon

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A brief look at Canada's national team pool

The Canucks tasked with leading their team into the 2011 Gold Cup


Over the past few days — and ahead of the league welcoming its second Canadian franchise, the Vancouver Whitecaps, into the fold — MLSsoccer.com has been exploring the state of Canadian soccer — where it's been, where it's at and where it's going.

Today we scout the current national team pool, which offers a balanced mix of exciting young players and seasoned veterans sprinkled thoughout Europe and North America

www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/brief-look-canadas-national-team-pool

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Canadian soccer's all-time Best XI

State of Canadian Soccer wraps up with all-time top selection

Over the past few days — and ahead of the league welcoming its second Canadian franchise, the Vancouver Whitecaps, into the fold — MLSsoccer.com has explored the state of Canadian soccer — where it's been, where it's at and where it's going. Here, MLSsoccer.com contributor Peter Mallett picks his all-time Canadian Best XI team. It's a squad that spans generations that we think would give the world's best — from any place, any time — a run for its money.

www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/canadian-soccers-all-time-best-xi

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Canada's future: 5 players to look out for

State of Canadian Soccer: A look at five top youth prospects

The Canadian men’s national team has struggled to find success on the international stage recently, but with each new World Cup cycle comes another opportunity to return to the big dance. In order to achieve success in the future, though, they’ll need an influx of fresh faces. We take a look at five such players to look out for in the coming years.

www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/canadas-future-5-players-look-out