National Teams

These February friendlies are always a bit of a wild card. Diluted squads, unusual locations and the determination not to get injured can often lend to a less than desirable match. Even with these issues, as a professional player, every time you put on that national team jersey, it’s an opportunity. With both teams fielding squads of mostly fringe players, El Tri were the only side to seize the chance and turn up in a one-sided affair.

Qatar, the small country on the Arabian Peninsula with a population less than that of Nevada, is spending almost half a billion dollars per week in preparation for the 2022 World Cup according to the country’s finance minister.

As reported by World Soccer’s Jamie Rainbow, this will amount to more than $200 billion by the time the tournament rolls around. 

The Canadian women’s national team had an impressive run at the 2016 Rio Olympics. After losing to eventual champions Germany 2-0 in the semifinals, Canada would go on to defeat the host nation Brazil in the bronze medal match, 2-1. 

The result tied their best-ever Olympic performance, which was another bronze in 2012. As the nation’s player pool continues to grow with talent, the success of the last five years will be an encouragement to both young players and investors. 

Cameroon defeated Egypt 2-1 on Sunday to clinch their fifth Africa Cup of Nations title, and they booked their ticket to Russia for the 2017 Confederations Cup in the process.

A rocking Stade d'Angondjé in Libreville, Gabon was witness to a dramatic and excellent final between a resurgent Egyptian side and a heavily unfavored Cameroon team that many had predicted to fail at this tournament.

Arsenal midfielder Mohamed Elneny gave Egypt the lead in the 22nd minute with a thunderous finish at the near post.

It's done and dusted. Cameroon defeated Ghana 2-0 in the Africa Cup of Nations semifinals Thursday and will move on to the final against Egypt on Sunday.

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Egypt and Burkina Faso met Wednesday with a trip to the Africa Cup of Nations on the line, and the match was ultimately decided by Egypt's 44-year-old goalkeeper, Essam El-Hadary.

El-Hadary made several fine saves in open play (which ended 1-1) before saving Burkina Faso's final two penalties to win the shootout.

Mexico manager Juan Carlos Osorio has named his 23-man squad for El Tri’s February 8 friendly against Iceland in Las Vegas, Nevada. As the match does not fall on an official FIFA international date (meaning European clubs do not have to release their players for national team duty), the squad is primarily Mexico-based, apart from the LA Galaxy’s Giovani dos Santos.

China has big plans for 2017. The Chinese Football Association gathered in Beijing to go over financial details in hopes of transforming the country into a soccer powerhouse. President Xi Jinping is the country’s number one soccer fan and intends to have China perform in future World Cups, an achievement they've only managed once.