June 8 – Canada’s players will play against Curacao on Thursday despite a bitter pay dispute that has rocked the country’s preparations for the World Cup in Qatar, their first appearance in the finals for 36 years.
The game against Curacao is Canada’s opening match in their Concacaf Nations League campaign.
The squad returned to training on Monday after refusing to play a World Cup warmup game against Panama the day before citing “unnecessarily prolonged” negotiations over a new contract with Canada Soccer.
The players are asking for World Cup compensation that includes 40% of prize money as well as a “comprehensive friends and family package” for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Had they continued their strike and missed Thursday’s game Canada Soccer would have faced a fine of at least $100,000 for withdrawing less than 30 days before kickoff.
Canada Soccer confirmed, in a statement released on Tuesday, that the CONCACAF Nations League game against Curacao would go ahead.
“Canada Soccer and the Men’s National Team players are excited to see their fans this Thursday 9 June at BC Place in Vancouver.”
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