Ahead of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar this November, qualified nations around the globe are looking to schedule matches to best prepare their sides for the upcoming tests in Qatar.
Canada is no different, and Les Rouges scheduled a friendly against Iran on Sunday, June 5 as they get set for Canada's first men's World Cup in 36 years. The match was intended to provide opposition of a similar talent level and playing style as Morocco, one of three Group F foes against which Canada will be contending at the World Cup. For similar reasons, the matchup also benefited Iran, which is preparing to face the USA in Group B action at the World Cup.
However, amidst the buildup to the Iran match, the Canadian soccer federation faced severe public criticism for inviting the nation to play on Canadian soil in a match that was scheduled to take place at BC Place in Vancouver.
Eventually, Canada announced the cancellation of the fixture against Iran, and ultimately replaced it with a match against Panama, a regional foe and fellow member of CONCACAF (soccer confederation of North America, Central America and the Caribbean).
MORE: Full review of Canada's Group F at World Cup 2022
Why Canada vs Iran was cancelled
In mid-May, Canada announced a friendly match against fellow World Cup participant Iran to take place on June 5.
“At Canada Soccer we believe in the power of sport and its ability to bring people from different backgrounds and political beliefs together for a common purpose," said Canada Soccer upon the announcement of the friendly. “Iran is one of 32 participating member associations at the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 and Canada Soccer continues to follow all international protocols in staging this match. We are focused on preparations for our men’s national team to compete on the world stage.”
The decision received immediate criticism from numerous fronts given Canada's icy relations with Iran in the aftermath of the downing of Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752 on January 8, 2020, flying from Tehran to Kyiv. The crash of the Boeing 737 was caused by two surface-to-air missiles fired by the Iranian military. All 176 passengers aboard the flight were killed in the crash, including 55 Canadian citizens and 30 more Canadian permanent residents.
The decision to stage the match against Iran was even denounced by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, among other individuals. "This was a choice by Soccer Canada," Trudeau said on May 17. "I think it wasn't a very good idea to invite the Iranian soccer team here to Canada. But that's something that the organizers are going to have to explain."
CMNT: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau not pleased whatsoever with Canada Soccer arranging a friendly at home v Iran.
Says it was "choice" made by Sport Canada and Soccer Canada.
— Ben Steiner (@BenSteiner00) May 17, 2022
The friendly was also denounced by Hamed Esmaeilion, the chief spokesperson for the Association of Families of Flight PS752 Victims, who called it a “slap in the face of everyone who has been affected by the January 8, 2020 downing of Ukraine International Airlines Flight PS752.”
There has been tension between the two nations prior to the downed flight, beginning with the killing of freelance Canadian photojournalist Zahra Kazemi in 2003. Trudeau closed the Canadian embassy in Tehran in 2012 and has not reopened it.
Hamed Esmaeilion @esmaeilion @ps752justice lost his wife and daughter when Iran shot down Flight PS752.
Now, he’s angry that @canadasoccer has plans to host Iran’s soccer team here in Canada.
“They don't have hearts,” he told @mattgallowaycbc
Full invu: https://t.co/cZuY42TecS pic.twitter.com/WUqyw86OuM
— CBC Radio: The Current (@TheCurrentCBC) May 18, 2022
Outcry leads to Canada vs Iran cancellation
On May 26, the match was cancelled by Canada Soccer.
A statement from the federation said it had "the best intentions in striving to ensure that the men’s national team gains important experience against FIFA World Cup teams in preparation for Qatar 2022."
"Over the past week, the untenable geopolitical situation of hosting Iran became significantly divisive, and in response, the match was cancelled. While we considered the external factors in selecting the optimal opponent in our original decision-making process, we will strive to do better moving forward.
"Canada Soccer will be conducting a thorough review of our processes for the hosting of international matches to ensure no stone is left unturned in our pursuit of excellence both on and off the pitch, including consultation with all stakeholders."
The Iranian federation criticized the decision, saying, "Unfortunately, contrary to the theatrical claims, the most sporting issues seem to have become a plaything of partisan orientations and political partitioning within Canada.
"The negative stances and statements of the Prime Minister of Canada and some others indicate the predominance of a purely political and partisan view in all aspects of governance in Canada, and therefore the behavior of the Canadian authorities in public easily becomes a plaything of opposition and Iranophobic groups."
Canada Soccer has provided an additional statement following the cancellation of our international match with Iran.https://t.co/BPRu1sbMA6
— Canada Soccer (@CanadaSoccerEN) May 26, 2022
An official from Iran's sports ministry announced that the Iranian Football Federation would sue for $10 million for breach of contract.
Canada vs Panama replaces Iran friendly
In the place of the cancelled Canada vs. Iran friendly, Les Rouges will now play fellow CONCACAF member nation Panama on June 5 in BC Place.
Unlike Iran, Panama did not qualify for the World Cup and therefore will not present the same type of opposition that Iran would have provided. In addition, Panama is a familiar opponent for a Canadian side that has not had many opportunities to take on opposition from outside the CONCACAF region.
According to one report, the Canadian men have only played two teams outside of the CONCACAF region since 2018. Their last 25 matches have all come against CONCACAF teams, per another report.
After facing Panama, Canada's following two matches in June are against two more CONCACAF sides: Curacao (June 9) and Honduras (June 13) in official tournament competition (CONCACAF Nations League).
In the lead-up to a World Cup it's slightly more rare for intra-confederation friendlies to take place, since qualified nations look instead to schedule games against unfamiliar opponents to get a look at different styles of play that could present themselves during the World Cup.
Canada had not played Iran since 2001, with three meetings overall. In contrast, Canada has met Panama 12 times in history, with two matches in the last two years, and eight meetings since the last time Canada played Iran.
Why Canada vs Panama replaced Iran friendly: Explaining cancellation of match against fellow 2022 World Cup team - Sporting News
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