Canada 2-2 Guadeloupe: Off-the-field struggles bleed onto the pitch in Gold Cup opener as John Herdman’s side fails to beat minnows – hours after report of potential bankruptcy
- Canada couldn’t get past Guadeloupe in Toronto as they conceded late
- The result followed a report that the Canadian federation is low on money
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An already troubling day for Canada got even worse as they tied Guadeloupe 2-2 in their Gold Cup opener.
FIFA’s 47th-ranked team were just minutes away from victory in Toronto but a Jacen Russell-Rowe own goal in the 93rd minute gave Guadeloupe a shock draw.
The underdogs had taken the lead in the 23rd minute through Thierry Ambrose before Canada regained control through a Lucas Cavallini goal and a Meddy Lina own goal in the 70th minute.
Canada outshot Guadeloupe 17-9 but ultimately had to settle for one point.
The draw comes after a report from TSN that the Canadian soccer federation could file for bankruptcy and be forced to bypass the September and October international windows.
Canada’s Jonathan Osorio (21) reacts following the team’s draw against Guadeloupe
Junior Hoilett #10 of Canada battles for the ball with Meddy Lina #19 of Guadeloupe
Canada’s Jacen Russell-Rowe (17) scores a last-minute own goal past goalkeeper Milan Borjan
The women’s national team will be playing in forthcoming World Cup next month, but things could go south in the fall.
‘We are in a real struggle. It’s not imminent, but we need to explore what bankruptcy entails and how it might affect our organization,’ said Jason deVos, the interim general secretary of Canada Soccer, in an interview with TSN.
‘We don’t have enough revenue coming in for the programs that need to be run, and that includes everything from grassroots coach education and referee development to youth national teams and our senior men’s and women’s teams.’
Canada Soccer’s reserves fell to $2.4million at the end of 2022, but the fund had $7.1m a year earlier, per TSN.
The organization has yet to sign a new collective bargaining agreements with either senior national team, and it continues to receive criticism over a contract it signed in 2018 with a company that will pay it an annual upfront fee in exchange all the revenue from the national teams’ media rights and sponsorships, TSN reported.
Canada will co-host the 2026 World Cup with the United States and Mexico, driving up the value of Canada Soccer’s media and sponsorship rights.
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