Canadian Men’s Soccer Team Secures November Friendly Against Venezuela

The Canadian men’s national soccer team has finalized its schedule for 2025, including a friendly match against No. 46 Venezuela on November 18. This game will take place at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, the home ground of Inter Miami. The matchup fills the last remaining slot on Canada’s international calendar for this year.

Jesse Marsch, head coach of the Canadian team, expressed excitement about the upcoming fixture. “The quarterfinal win over Venezuela at the 2024 Copa America was a landmark moment for our program and something our players, staff, and supporters will never forget,” he stated. Canada emerged victorious in that encounter, winning 4-2 on penalties after a 1-1 draw.

Historically, Canada’s encounters with Venezuela have been competitive. The previous two meetings prior to the Copa America ended in draws, with the teams playing to a 1-1 tie in Merida in May 2010 and a 2-2 draw in Maracaibo in June 2007. The upcoming friendly will provide an opportunity for Canada to gauge its progress against a quality opponent.

Venezuela’s recent performance has been disappointing, as they were eliminated from World Cup contention following a heavy 6-3 loss to No. 14 Colombia. This defeat left Venezuela in eighth place in the CONMEBOL standings, solidifying their status as the only team in the South American confederation yet to qualify for a World Cup. The top six finishers in CONMEBOL, including Argentina and Brazil, secure automatic berths for the tournament.

As for Canada, the national team has shown strong form in 2025, with a record of 6 wins, 1 draw, and 3 losses. Their recent victories include a 3-0 win over No. 48 Romania and a 1-0 triumph against No. 31 Wales during the September international window. Two of their draws resulted in shootout losses, including one against No. 45 Ivory Coast in the Canadian Shield tournament and another against No. 100 Guatemala in the Gold Cup.

Upcoming Matches and Diverse Opposition

Looking ahead, Canada is set to face No. 24 Australia on October 10 at Saputo Stadium in Montreal, followed by a clash with Colombia on October 14 in Harrison, New Jersey. The team will also kick off the last FIFA international window of the year with a match against No. 25 Ecuador on November 13 at BMO Field in Toronto.

The 2025 schedule has offered a diverse range of opponents, with Canada competing against various teams across different confederations. Of the 14 matches this year, six have been against opponents from CONCACAF, along with three from Europe, three from South America, and one each from Africa and Asia.

As the Canadian team prepares for the November friendly, they aim to build on their recent successes and continue their development on the international stage.