Ignorance isn’t bliss 25 Jun 2014 Issey Nakajima-Farran’s soccer career has taken him around the world. England. Japan. Australia. In 2014, he made the decision to come back to Canada — and to make Toronto his home. But, less than two months after he signed with the Reds, he was traded to Montreal — and he’s wondering if coming to MLS was the right choice, after all...
The lifeline 25 Jun 2014 At the end of the 2013 USL-PRO season, Canadian Philippe Davies had made up his mind. He was going to hang up the cleats. Disillusioned, he was ready to give up the game less than two years after playing in Canada’s Olympic program. Then, he got a call from Ottawa Fury coach Marc Dos Santos, and everything changed...
Commonwealth still brings back memories of 2002 25 Jun 2014 James Moorhouse, the technical director for USA Soccer, said Edmonton is special to his side. In 2002, the United States beat Kara Lang, Christine Sinclair and the Canadian team in the final of the U-19 Women’s World Championship, the forerunner to the Women’s World Cup. Commonwealth was packed as the home fans hoped for the upset.
Breaking away from Boston 25 Jun 2014 At first glance, you’d think that moving to the W-League from the NWSL represents a major step down. But, Canadian national-team veteran Rhian Wilkinson opted to leave the Boston Breakers behind and return to her native Quebec. Now playing in Laval, she speaks about her decision to leave Beantown and her future in the game...
The great Fire hire 25 Jun 2014 Frank Yallop was widely expected to take over the reins of the Vancouver Whitecaps; instead, the former Canadian national-team coach chose to steer the Chicago Fire. In this interview, he tells us why he chose the Windy City, and how he hopes MLS can help Canadian soccer in the future...
Hurry up and wait 25 Jun 2014 Mallan Roberts is a man of two nations, but he only officially belongs to one of them.
The triple crown 25 Jun 2014 Sura Yekka is still in high school; and she has the chance to do something that’s a true rarity in either men’s or women’s soccer. She’s already represented Canada at U-17 World Cup; she’s expected to be one of Canada’s stars at this summer’s U-20 World Cup. And, she’s likely to make the senior squad for next year’s Women’s World Cup. Three World Cups at three age levels in just over a year. How many other players could boast such a feat?
Canadian women lose to Germans by a goal; but it’s a flattering scoreline 19 Jun 2014 Canada had that very challenge on Wednesday night at BC Place; a high-profile Women’s World Cup tuneup against the Germans. And, even though the scoreline was a respectable 2-1 for the visitors, you’d have a hard time feeling good about this match if you were a Canadian supporter.
Montagliani’s vision: A Canadian Division 1A that “coexists” with MLS, NASL 18 Jun 2014 But, there's one part of that World Cup section that's sure to get a lot of attention. And that's the stated Canadian Soccer Association goal of an all-Canadian Division One — or "1A," as CSA President Victor Montagliani called it in our interview.
Issue 2 of Plastic Pitch: An in-depth look at Canada’s 2026 World Cup bid 18 Jun 2014 The second issue of Plastic Pitch, out today, features a 16-page section on Canada's bid for the World Cup.