Canada to host Chile and Peru in first home matches since historic FIFA World Cup run

Canada’s men’s national team is heading back home. After delivering the most successful FIFA World Cup campaign in the program’s history, Canada Soccer has announced two international friendlies that will bring the team back in front of Canadian supporters for the first time since the tournament. Jesse Marsch’s squad will face Chile at Toronto’s BMO Field on Sept. 26 before traveling to Montréal to take on Peru at Stade Saputo on Oct. 3.

The two matches, collectively branded as “The Homecoming,” are intended to celebrate the national team’s breakthrough summer while beginning preparations for the next chapter on the road to the 2030 FIFA World Cup.

A celebration after a historic summer

Canada returns to action following a tournament that transformed the perception of men’s soccer in the country.

Playing on home soil during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the Canadians earned their first-ever point, victory and knockout-stage appearance in the competition. Jesse Marsch’s side opened with a 1-1 draw against Bosnia and Herzegovina before producing a historic 6-0 victory over Qatar, the largest World Cup win ever recorded by a Concacaf nation.

That performance was highlighted by Jonathan David’s hat trick, the first by a Concacaf player at a World Cup since 1930.

Despite falling 2-1 to Switzerland in the final group match, Canada advanced to the knockout rounds for the first time before Stephen Eustáquio’s dramatic stoppage-time winner against South Africa secured a place in the Round of 16. The memorable run came to an end against Morocco, but Canada finished the tournament with several milestones and one of the country’s most celebrated international campaigns.

Reflecting on that journey, head coach Jesse Marsch emphasized the importance of bringing the team back in front of Canadian supporters.

“The momentum we’ve created for this sport in the country over the past few months has been incredible,” Marsch said. “We couldn’t have done it without our fans, and these matches are a chance to say thank you and continue to build on what we achieved at the World Cup.”

Toronto and Montréal welcome the national team back

The first stop will be Toronto, where Canada hosts Chile at BMO Field on Saturday, Sept. 26.

One week later, the team will travel to Montréal for a meeting with Peru at Stade Saputo on Saturday, Oct. 3. The fixture will mark Peru’s latest opportunity to continue building under head coach Mano Menezes as the South American side prepares for the 2030 World Cup qualifying cycle.

For Canadian fans, the matches also represent a return to two venues that played significant roles during the World Cup. BMO Field hosted Canada’s opening match of the tournament, while Stade Saputo now becomes the setting for the team’s first appearance in Montréal since its historic run.

Eyes already turning toward the Nations League

The friendlies will also serve as Canada’s final preparations before returning to competitive action later this year.

Because of its third-place finish in the 2024-25 Concacaf Nations League, Canada received a bye into the quarter-finals of the 2026-27 edition and will begin that competition in November. The two-legged quarter-final series will determine qualification for the Nations League Finals, scheduled for March 2027 at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles.

The tournament also doubles as a qualification pathway for the 2027 Concacaf Gold Cup, making the autumn international window an important opportunity for Marsch to continue building a squad that exceeded expectations on home soil.

Canada Soccer also confirmed that additional matches could still be added during the expanded September-October FIFA international window.