Hamilton picked to host Canada-U.S. World Cup qualifying game

Tim Horton's Field (Aaron Lynett/CP)

Canada will host the United States outdoors at Tim Hortons Field in Hamilton on Jan. 30 in a key World Cup qualifying game.

Canada Soccer made the announcement on Thursday.

“We are excited to bring the Men’s National Team FIFA World Cup Qualifiers match to Hamilton in January with the team riding a nation-wide wave of support at the top of the table and after an incredible display from Edmontonians in November,” Dr. Nick Bontis, Canada Soccer president, said in a statement. “We are looking forward to seeing a Sea of Red at Tim Hortons Field in January for the Men’s National Team’s FIFA World Cup Qualifiers as we have throughout the Final Round with our fans continuing to push the Men’s National Team to new heights.”

It will mark the third straight Canada home game likely to be played in cold weather — and the first Canadian men’s international “A” match in Hamilton. Canada beat Costa Rica and Mexico in Edmonton earlier this month to vault to the top of the Concacaf standings after eight games.

While playing indoors at Vancouver’s BC Place was considered for the Jan. 30 fixture, it would have caused a far tougher travel schedule for Canada.

The Canadians are in Honduras on Jan. 27 and in El Salvador on Feb. 2.

The Americans opted for cold-weather venues to be sandwiched around their trip to Canada. They’ll face El Salvador on Jan. 27 in Columbus, Ohio and Honudras on Feb. 2 in St. Paul, Minn.

Canada played its first three home World Cup qualifiers on grass at BMO Field in Toronto before shifting to artificial turf for Edmonton and now Hamilton.

Canada has four road games and two home games left.

The Canadians are one point up on the U.S. and two ahead of Mexico and Panama.

The top three teams earn direct entries into the 2022 World Cup.

The U.S.-Canada game adds another big event to the Tim Hortons Field schedule. The Hamilton field hosts the Canadian Premier League final on Dec. 5, the Grey Cup on Dec. 12 and the Tim Hortons Heritage Classic outdoor NHL game between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Buffalo Sabres on March 13.

Forge FC of the CPL and the CFL’s Hamilton Tiger-Cats call Tim Hortons Field home.

Forge FC has won the first two CPL titles and will host Pacific FC in the 2021 final.

The Ticats host the Montreal Alouettes in the CFL East semifinal on Sunday.

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