Ranked fifth in the region in the latest FIFA rankings released today, Canada will have to pull off an upset in order to be among the top two teams advancing to the next stage.
Mexico is currently the top ranked team among CONCACAF (Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football) nations, with Honduras third and Jamaica, ninth.
Radzinski, a Mississaugan who has played the bulk of his career in the English Premiership with Everton and Fulham, is a proven scorer internationally.
Meanwhile, Stalteri, a former member of the Malton Soccer Club, is a veteran defender, who has played for both Tottenham and Fulham.
He was Canada’s captain the last time the team took to the field.
Canada’s three home matches in CONCACAF qualifying play will be August 20 at 7:30 p.m. against Jamaica in Toronto, Sept. 6 against Honduras in Montreal, and Oct. 15 against Mexico in Edmonton.
Canada will also play away games in the home-and-home series against Mexico on Sept. 10 in Tuxtla Gutierrez, Chiapas, Honduras on Oct. 11 in a yet to be determined location, and Jamaica on Nov. 19 in Kingston.
Canada needs to finish first or second in Group B in order to advance to CONCACAF Stage IV in 2009.
Canada’s men’s national team posted one draw and two wins in June, including back-to-back wins over Saint Vincent & the Grenadines in an earlier World Cup qualifier.
The 2010 FIFA World Cup will be held in South Africa.
Tickets to the Toronto match will be available through Ticketmaster.
Also ranked among the top 10 CONCACAF countries are the United States (2), Panama (4), Cuba (6), Costa Rica (7), Suriname (8) and Trinidad & Tobago (10).
dwiner@mississauga.net
