Canadian women's national soccer team to host Brazil at TD Place in 2016
Game kicks off at 7 p.m. on June 7 at TD Place with tickets going on sale on March 22
The Canadian women's national soccer team will play host to Brazil in a match on June 7, 2016 at TD Place.
The match is part of Canada Soccer's Road to Rio as the team prepares for the Olympics in Brazil this summer.
The announcement was part of International Women's Day celebrations in the capital hosted by Ottawa's mayor Jim Watson.
"Having Team Canada come here on June 7 to play at TD Place against Brazil is a dream come true," Watson said.
The chance to play in Canada is also one that is being embraced by the players.
"We are really excited to be playing at home again," said team captain Christine Sinclair in a video message at a press conference Tuesday. "We've always received so much love from Canadian fans, and we are just really happy to be able to come home and play in front of a Canadian crowd again."
The team has had success lately at the Algarve Cup, an invitational tournament being held in Portugal.
Canada defeated Iceland on Monday 1 - 0 to secure a spot in Wednesday's final against Brazil.
Inspiring a younger generation of soccer players
"Young girls are saying they want to grow up to be the next Christine Sinclair," said Canada Soccer's General Secretary Peter Montopoli. "We know from a television perspective, a social media perspective and just general excitement, that they wish to play soccer and continue on their paths to being national team athletes."
Canada's Minister of of Sport and Persons with Disabilities Carla Qualtrough agreed, adding this team is full of role models for younger girls playing the sport.
"They're tough, they're assertive, they're confident, they're compassionate, they're Canadian," Qualtrough said. "All of the things that we value about being Canadian, these girls personify."
The match will kick off at 7 p.m. at TD Place with tickets going on sale on March 22.