A football premiere in Kelowna
Rob Gibson – December 15, 2021 / 7:00 p.m. | History: 354693
Photo: Football Canada
The Football Canada Cup is coming to Kelowna for the first time in its 25-year history.
The premier pre-university soccer tournament was launched in 1995 and features the best soccer players under the age of 18 from across the country.
The championship runs July 9-17, 2022 and will be played at Kelowna’s Apple Bowl, with players and coaches staying at UBC Okanagan. Game days for the Canada Cup are July 11th, 14th and 17th.
Like many sporting events, the championship has been put on hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The Canada Cup is our premier national championship with the best in class moving up to secondary school,” said Jim Mullin, President of Football Canada. “In my opinion there is hardly a better place than the Okanagan in July. Combining a summer in Kelowna with our 25th edition of the Canada Cup is a fantastic way to restart our national and international events.”
The Canada Cup will pick up where it left off in 2019 when Saskatchewan was crowned champion. Quebec will be ranked second after winning silver and Alberta will be third. British Columbia will be sixth seed after a tough performance in 2019, ending in 1-2. The other teams will be from Ontario, Manitoba, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia.
“This will be an outstanding showcase for talent across the country,” said Canada Cup Chairman Jay Christensen. “I’ve had the opportunity to coach Team BC in the past and I know this is a top notch event. It provides a platform for players entering Grade 12 to show off their talents and skills to potential post-secondary schools and junior soccer programs. A championship like this will also have a huge impact on our local economy. “
Each team in the Canada Cup is guaranteed three games, with the medal games scheduled for Sunday, July 17, 2022. The tournament will feature scouts from Canadian and American universities / colleges as well as junior soccer programs hoping to recruit the best players for the following year.
