The U.S. Men's National Team travels to Canada for the first time since 1997. Photo Credit: U.S. Soccer

U.S. Soccer News: U.S. Travels To Face Canada on June 3 at BMO Field in Toronto for Final Tune-Up before 2014 FIFA World Cup Qualifying

First Meeting on Canadian Soil Since 1997

The U.S. Men's National Team will make a rare visit to Canada when it renews the rivalry June 3 at BMO Field in Toronto. Kickoff for the USA's first match on Canadian soil since 1997 is set for 7 p.m. ET, and the match will be broadcast live on NBC Sports Network. Fans can also follow the match live online via ussoccer.com's MatchTracker and Twitter @ussoccer.

Part of the Centenary celebrations for the Canada Soccer Association, the match will be the final tune-up for both teams before the start of 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifying. The U.S. opens play June 8 at home against Antigua and Barbuda in Group A, while Canada travels to face Cuba in Group C.

"First of all, we are honored to be chosen to be part of Canada's Centenary Celebration," said head coach Jürgen Klinsmann. "This is exactly the type of challenge we are looking for as we grow the team and get ready for the start of World Cup qualifying. There is a great history in the rivalry, and Canada is a team we could see in the final round of qualifying. It's a win-win for everybody."

The U.S. has a 3-6-1 lifetime record in matches in Canada in the series dating back to 1925 but has won the last two times out. The most recent visit came in the final round of qualifying for the 1998 FIFA World Cup on Nov. 9, 1997, when an early goal by Claudio Reyna and two from Roy Wegerle delivered the U.S. a 3-0 victory that clinched the USA's ticket to France.

Overall, the United States has done exceptionally well against Canada for the past two decades. The U.S. is in the midst of a 14-game unbeaten streak (8-0-6) since dropping a 2-0 decision to Canada on April 2, 1985, in Vancouver. Coincidentally, all of those meetings have taken place on U.S. soil, where the U.S. has enjoyed the majority of its success in the rivalry dating back to 1925. The lifetime series record stands at 13-8-9 in the USA's favor.

The U.S.-Canada rivalry started on June 27, 1925, with host Canada defeating the USA 1-0 at Alexandra Park in Montreal. It was only the seventh game in U.S. history since the team began competition in 1916. Back then, the starting players would compete for the full match, and fans could buy the souvenir game program for only a nickel.

Canada had the upper hand early on during this rivalry, winning its first four matches on home soil against the USA. On the flip side, Canada generally struggled when it traveled to the U.S. The USA won three of its first four at home against Canada, including a pair of 6-1 victories in 1925 and 1926 in Brooklyn, N.Y.

The U.S. shut out Canada 2-0 in its first group match of the 2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup on June 11 at Ford Field in Detroit. Jozy Altidore and Clint Dempsey netted goals on either side of halftime, and goalkeeper Tim Howard posted his 21st career shutout.

U.S. vs. Canada: By the Numbers

$.05 –the cost of the U.S. vs. Canada game program from the teams’ first match on June 27, 1925

.583 – the U.S.’s winning percentage against Canada

2 – times the U.S. has played Canada in Toronto

3 – U.S. goalkeepers since 1986 to earn a shutout against Canada in their first cap (since 1986): David Vanole (Feb. 5, 1986), Brad Friedel (Sept. 3, 1992), Matt Reis (Jan. 26, 2006)

3 – U.S. players who scored their first international goal against Canada: Carlos Bocanegra, Chris Klein and Steve Ralston, all on Jan. 18, 2003

4 – goals scored by Archie Stark on Nov. 8, 1925, making him the first player in U.S. history to score a hat trick

5 – largest goal differential  by which the U.S. has won (6-1 twice, on Nov. 8, 1925, and Nov. 6, 1926)

10 – times the U.S. has played Canada on Canadian soil

11 – U.S. players since 1990 who earned their first caps against Canada*

13 – times the teams have met in World Cup Qualifying

14 – consecutive games in which the U.S. is unbeaten by Canada (8-0-6 since April 4, 1985)

32 – goals Canada has scored against the U.S.

51 – goals the USA has scored against Canada

234 – days past his 16th birthday that Freddy Adu earned his first cap, making him the youngest player in U.S. history to play for the Men’s National Team

2,730 – minutes the teams have faced each other on the field (30 games)

50,760 – highest attendance at a U.S. vs. Canada match, the 2-1 USA victory in the CONCACAF Gold Cup Semifinals on June 21, 2007, at Soldier Field in Chicago

* David Vanole, Brad Friedel, Yari Allnutt, Cobi Jones, Joe-Max Moore, Mike Lapper, Mike Burns (all Sept. 3, 1992), Jean Harbor (Oct. 9, 1992), Michael Mason (March 16, 1997), Matt Reis, Freddy Adu (both Jan. 26, 2006)

The U.S. Men's National Team will begin its journey toward the 2014 FIFA World Cup this June when it begins play in Group A of CONCACAF Semifinal Round qualifying. Along with the U.S., Group A is comprised of Antigua and Barbuda, Guatemala and Jamaica. Each opponent will meet twice, once at home and once away, in round robin play. The USA's opening match in group play will take place June 8 at home against first-time semifinalists Antigua and Barbuda. Four days later, the U.S. will play away against Guatemala.

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