The November games will be Davies’ first as pro in his hometown. The choice of venue also makes for a homecoming for 20-year-old Bayern Munich star Alphonso Davies, who delivered a video message at Tuesday’s news conference. after extra time over a Canadian team that featured Sinclair and goalkeeper Erin McLeod. “It’s a passionate football crowd that has showed up when we needed it,” he added, also referencing the 2002 FIFA U-19 Women’s World Championship.Īlmost 48,000 were on hand at Commonwealth Stadium to see that 2002 U-19 final, won 1-0 by the U.S. “It was a sea of red that day,” Herdman recalled. In 2015, he experienced a crowd of more than 53,000 roaring his team on as captain Christine Sinclair slotted home a 92nd-minute penalty for a 1-0 win over China in the opening game of the Women’s World Cup. Herdman also has fond memories of Commonwealth Stadium. “Both times I could barely move my lips on the sidelines,” he said. Herdman remembers coaching the Canadian women in October games in Edmonton against South Korea (2013) and Japan (2014). While a loud and proud crowd will boost Canada, it’s also hoped that playing in chilly conditions on artificial turf will discombobulate the Costa Rican and Mexicans.
Herdman’s visit to Edmonton to drum up interest in the November matches was timed to coincide with tickets going on sale Friday. The fourth-place side will take part in an intercontinental playoff to see who joins them. Come March, the top three teams will book their ticket to Qatar 2022, representing North and Central America and the Caribbean.