Canada’s important 2022 World Cup qualifier against USA in Hamilton will be held in front of a 50 per cent reduced capacity crowd due to current public health guidelines.
Only 12,000 fans will be able to attend the match at Tim Hortons Field January 30. Hamilton’s stadium has a usual capacity of 24,000.
All 24,000 previously sold tickets will be refunded. But Canada Soccer said all ticket purchasers will have the opportunity to buy tickets for the game through a dedicated pre-sale window beginning at 10 a.m. ET on Tuesday, January 25.
“We prioritize the safety of all players, staff and fans and want to acknowledge the diligent and ongoing work, not only these past few weeks, but throughout the Final Round of FIFA World Cup Qualifiers, of our partners at all levels of government to ensure that we are able to play in front of our fans on home soil,” said Canada Soccer President Dr. Nick Bontis via a statement Thursday.
Canada drew 1-1 with USA in their first qualifier meeting in Nasvhille in September.
Canada’s next World Cup qualifier is away to Honduras January 27. The USA game is next before Canada’s last match of the window away to El Salvador February 2.
Loading ...Full Canada Soccer statement:
Canada Soccer announces capacity reduction for 30 January Match
Canada Soccer confirmed today that in accordance with all relevant public health guidelines, the capacity for the 30 January FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ Qualifiers match against United States will be reduced to 50% of venue capacity at Tim Hortons Field.
Due to the reduced capacity of 12,000 spectators, all tickets purchased as part of the original on sale date of 17 December 2021 will be cancelled with full refunds provided to all ticket holders on their credit cards within two to four weeks. Canada Soccer will be in direct contact with all ticket purchasers to provide details on how to access tickets for the 50% reduced capacity configuration.
All ticket purchasers will be provided the opportunity to purchase tickets for the 30 January home match through a dedicated pre-sale window beginning at 10 a.m. ET on Tuesday 25 January. A public on-sale will follow on 26 January at 10:00 ET should inventory remain available.
Canada Soccer’s Men’s National Team crucial home match, presented by Oat Canada, comes in the middle of a three-match FIFA window which will open in Honduras on 27 January. After the Hamilton fixture, Canada will travel to El Salvador for a 2 February away match to close the window.
“We remain excited to bring the Men’s National Team FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ Qualifiers match to Hamilton with the team riding a nation-wide wave of support at the top of the table and we thank all of our fans who helped us sell out Tim Hortons Field back in December and are pushing our team to new heights,” said Dr. Nick Bontis, Canada Soccer President. “We prioritize the safety of all players, staff and fans and want to acknowledge the diligent and ongoing work, not only these past few weeks, but throughout the Final Round of FIFA World Cup Qualifiers, of our partners at all levels of government to ensure that we are able to play in front of our fans on home soil.”
Enhanced public health and safety measures will be in place at Tim Hortons Field including fans attending the match being required to provide proof of vaccination (QR code and double dose), pass through active screening upon entry, wear masks (unless eating or drinking), practice social distancing, remain in their seats unless using washrooms or purchasing food and beverage, and avoid congregating in common areas.
The match will be the first time Canada Soccer’s Men’s National Team have played an International ‘A’ match in Hamilton, Ontario. The Women’s National Team last played in Hamilton against Germany in an International ‘A’ Friendly in 2018. All matches in Canada Soccer’s Men’s National Team World Cup Qualifiers will be broadcast LIVE on OneSoccer, including TELUS channel 980, onesoccer.ca, Sportsnet and RDS.
Canada sits undefeated at the top of the table in the Concacaf Final Round of FIFA World Cup Qualifiers after their back-to-back victories at Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton, AB with a 2:1 victory over visiting Mexico on 16 November and a 1:0 victory over Costa Rica on 12 November. The win moved Canada into first place with 16 points from eight matches (4-4-0) ahead of USA (15 points), Mexico (14 points) and Panama (14 points).
