Cold and heavy snow expected for the qualifying game for the World Cup in Canada and Mexico in Edmonton | The Canadian News

Sam Adekugbe grew up in Calgary and has played professional soccer in Norway, so he knows a few things about dealing with inclement weather.

When asked about the coldest game he had ever played, his memory went back to Scandinavia.

“Probably Norway, a little town called Tromso, dropped to -15,” Adekubge said after the Canadian team trained indoors Monday at the Scottish Dome on Edmonton’s south side.

“It was cold, but we survived.”

Canada (3-0-4) is preparing to face Mexico in a game that could decide who goes to the top of the table in the CONCACAF World Cup qualifying octagon. Canada is currently in third place, Mexico (4-1-2) is tied with the United States for the top. The top three teams qualify for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, while the fourth-place team has one last chance to qualify via an intercontinental tiebreaker.

READ MORE: Canada wins 1-0 over Costa Rica in World Cup qualifying match at Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton

Canada beat Costa Rica in Edmonton on Friday, against more than 48,806. That game was played in what some in Edmonton would consider pleasant November conditions, at 1 C. But Environment Canada is calling for heavy snowfall during the day Tuesday, followed by what could be -11 C temperatures around the start, and that’s before the wind chill. is included in the factor.

READ MORE: 10-30cm of snow expected in Edmonton for Tuesday

Defender Steven Vitoria said the weather will not affect the team.

“We grew up on this,” he said. “We joke around during the week, this takes us back to our childhood.

“They were excited. We are not going to find excuses. We are going to leave everything there, sunny or snowy.”

He said the weather was not a factor on Friday because fan support for Canada was very strong and players were able to ride out the wave of excitement.

“We don’t really feel it, we feed off the heat from our fans and we think it will be crucial tomorrow night.”

READ MORE: The Canadian men’s soccer team has become a winning band of brothers under John Herdman

Canada Soccer officials confirmed that more than 50,000 tickets had been sold by Tuesday.

Coach John Herdman said he expects nothing less than a war between the two teams; Mexico beat Canada 2-1 in the Gold Cup, but Canada drew the Mexicans 1-1 at Estadio Azteca at the beginning of the qualifying cycle.

“The court will be set up the same way, it is a narrow field for both games,” he said. “But narrow field conditions are not going to matter.

“It is going to be an absolute war. It is what we intend to bring. Both teams want to finish at the top of the group by the end of the year ”.

READ MORE: Alphonso Davies’ return to Edmonton for World Cup qualifiers’ makes people believe ‘

The field in Commonwealth is narrow due to the surrounding running track. During training at the Scottish Dome on Monday, the sidelines were brought in so the team could replicate Commonwealth conditions.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, in Edmonton Monday morning to make an announcement about the child care plan, visited the team during the session.

“I just want you to know how much we are all so excited about what you have accomplished, what you are going to continue to accomplish and to know that we are really, really, really on track for all of you,” Trudeau told the players.

Trudeau asked the team if they thought the cold weather and snow would be an advantage against Mexico.

“They are not going to like it,” said a member of the team.

“It’s not like they grew your hair out. Nobody is going to like it, but are you a little more used to it? Trudeau asked.

READ MORE: Avalanche Bulletins Issued for Parts of the Rocky Mountains; 15 to 40 cm of snow is expected

The players smiled and nodded.

“He reminded us that we are all in this together as a country, and that we all share a common goal, to raise the name of our country as high as possible,” Vitoria said of the meeting with Trudeau.

–With files from Daniela Germano, The Canadian Press