The Canadian men’s national soccer team is returning to Montreal for the first time in seven years as they prepare to face Australia in an international friendly at Stade Saputo on October 10.
The announcement, made by Canada Soccer on Thursday evening, confirms that the match will be held at CF Montreal’s home stadium, marking the team’s return to the city since June 2017.
That previous visit to Montreal saw a milestone moment—captain Alphonso Davies made his senior debut that day, helping Canada edge Curacao 2-1 in front of a lively Quebec crowd.
“We’re looking forward to playing another top-tier opponent at home, especially with it being our first time back in Montreal since 2017,” said head coach Jesse Marsch in a statement. “Reconnecting with our fans across the country is a big part of what we’re building ahead of 2026. Montreal and the wider Quebec region have always shown deep support for this team, and we’re expecting a full house come October.”
Australia, currently ranked 26th in the FIFA world rankings, is one of four high-profile opponents Canada will face during the fall international window. Before meeting the Socceroos, Canada will take on No. 45 Romania and No. 29 Wales on September 5 and 9, respectively. The team is also scheduled to face No. 14 Colombia four days after the Australia match, on October 14.
Both Canada and Australia have already booked their places for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The Socceroos secured qualification with a 2-1 win over Saudi Arabia last month. It will be their seventh overall appearance at the tournament, and they matched their best-ever result at Qatar 2022, advancing to the Round of 16 under manager Tony Popovic.
The match in Montreal will mark the 10th time these two nations have squared off and their first meeting in over a decade. The last game between the sides took place in 2013 when Australia recorded a 3-0 win in London at Craven Cottage, the home ground of Fulham FC.
This fixture also carries historical significance. It will be exactly 100 years since Canada and Australia first faced each other. Their first series of matches happened in 1924 during Canada’s tour of Australia. The Canadians posted two wins, one loss, and three draws over six games.
One of the most memorable chapters in their rivalry came in 1993, during qualification for the 1994 FIFA World Cup. Canada hosted the first leg of a two-game playoff against Australia in Edmonton, claiming a 2-1 victory thanks to a late strike by Domenic Mobilio. The return leg in Sydney ended with the same 2-1 scoreline in favor of the Australians, and after extra time couldn’t separate the teams, the Socceroos advanced by winning the penalty shootout 4-1.
Australia leads the all-time series with five wins, three draws, and one loss in nine matches against Canada.
