Canada's national football team takes on Uzbekistan in a pre-World Cup friendly at Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton on Monday night, with organisers expecting just over 50,000 fans to fill the seats. The match serves as one of the final tune-ups before the FIFA World Cup begins in just 10 days.
The low-stakes friendly has no effect on the real tournament beginning in mid-June, acting as a warm-up ahead of the big battles that lie ahead for both nations. Win or lose, both teams will still be fighting for the Cup when the tournament proper kicks off.
However, the biggest blow for Team Canada is the absence of star player and captain Alphonso Davies, who has been sidelined by an injury. The Edmonton-raised athlete will not be on the pitch with his teammates but is expected to be in attendance at the stadium.
Despite losing their leader for this matchup, the Canadian squad remains confident after their recent training camp in Carolina. We are excited to be here in Edmonton, said one player. We know there will be a big crowd. We are ready and focused for tomorrow.
The weather may pose a challenge as rain has been falling in Edmonton ahead of the match. The last time Team Canada played at Commonwealth Stadium four years ago, a blanket of snow covered the pitch. This time, players could be fighting rain instead. However, organisers say they were told significant investment has gone into ensuring the pitch plays at a high level.
Contingency plans are in place should the weather worsen, though officials remain confident the match will go ahead as planned. The pitch at Commonwealth Stadium has been converted from a football field to a proper football pitch ahead of the FIFA World Cup matches scheduled to be held there.
The friendly match comes amid broader preparations across Canada for hosting the World Cup. Edmonton is one of the Canadian host cities and the country is investing heavily in venue upgrades and infrastructure to ensure a world-class experience for the millions of fans expected to attend matches across Canada, the United States and Mexico this summer.