Canadian Shield Tournament Kicks Off with Press Conferences and Open Training
The June 2025 competition is underway.
BMO Field, where the Canadian Shield Tournament will take place in June 2025. Photo Credit: Mark Temnycky
After several months of anticipation, the inaugural 2025 Canadian Shield is underway. The Canadian Soccer Association invited Ukraine, Ivory Coast, and New Zealand to participate in this competition.
During the June 2025 international window, these four teams will compete in this tournament as they prepare for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The competition also provides Toronto with an opportunity to showcase itself as it will host six matches during the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The Canadian Shield will be a valuable experience for the city and its fans.
To kick off the Canadian Shield Tournament, the organizers hosted a joint press conference with the national team managers from Canada, Ukraine, Ivory Coast, and New Zealand. During the event, Canada’s senior men’s national team manager Jesse Marsch stated that the tournament was designed to provide a more competitive structure for the teams participating in the competition. Marsch added that it was essential for these national teams to learn from new opponents from different continents, as they have distinct styles of football.
This is similar to how the World Cup is structured, where dozens of national teams compete against unfamiliar opponents. To prepare for these variables, Canada invited three competitive teams from different continents, allowing them to gain experience playing against new and diverse opponents.
The tournament also offers opportunities for these managers to experiment with their tactics and formations. The managers will debut some younger players, allowing them to gain experience at a high level in international football. Additionally, it will serve as a trial period for several players as they compete for their places in the final squads selected to participate in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
There are also different objectives for the teams competing in this tournament. To date, Canada and New Zealand have already qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. As a result, they will use the 2025 Canadian Shield Tournament as an opportunity to enhance the match fitness of their squads by competing against highly ranked national teams.
Meanwhile, Ivory Coast and Ukraine have yet to officially qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. For these two countries, the Canadian Shield will serve as a source of inspiration for these national teams as they aim to qualify for the world’s most prestigious football competition.
New Zealand Manager Darren Bazeley, Canada Manager Jesse Marsch, Ukraine Manager Serhiy Rebrov, and Ivory Coast Manager Emerse Faé pose for a photo after their joint press conference. Photo Credit: Mark Temnycky
Following the joint press conference, the four national team managers then had individual pre-match conferences. An open training then followed these discussions.
In Ukraine’s case, senior men’s national team manager Serhiy Rebrov discussed his squad selection for the tournament as well as what Ukraine hoped to achieve from its participation in this competition. During the discussion, Rebrov stated that he selected a young squad so that these players could gain more experience at the international level. For him, it was important to invest in Ukrainian youth. In addition, the competition will serve as a way to determine which of these young players will make Ukraine’s squad during the European qualification process for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be played this autumn.
Several veterans from the Ukrainian national team did not travel for this tournament. During the press conference, Rebrov stated that some of these players received injuries that prevented them from traveling. Meanwhile, other players needed a rest after playing a grueling and challenging season of club football. As a result, inviting younger players will allow him to experiment with the team to see who will fit into the system.
Ukraine Manager Serhiy Rebrov and Ukraine Midfielder Oleksandr Zinchenko answer questions from reporters during their pre-match press conference ahead of the Canada vs Ukraine game on June 7. Photo Credit: Mark Temnycky
Ukrainian midfielder Oleksandr Zinchenko joined Rebrov during the pre-match conference. While speaking at the event, Rebrov and Zinchenko noted that Canada has a large Ukrainian diaspora. They anticipated that the match against Canada would draw a large crowd, creating a grand atmosphere.
Rebrov and Zinchenko also took a moment to move away from football. During the press conference, they expressed gratitude to the Ukrainian-Canadian diaspora for their ongoing solidarity and support. To date, the Ukrainian-Canadian community has organized numerous fundraisers and launched other initiatives to help Ukraine during Russia’s ongoing invasion. They also thanked the Canada Soccer Association for inviting Ukraine to participate in the Canadian Shield Tournament, as well as the Canadian government for its continued support.
Ukraine’s senior men’s national football team trains ahead of their match against Canada. Photo Credit: Mark Temnycky
The press conference then concluded, and members of the media joined staff from the Ukrainian Association of Football to watch an open training with Ukraine’s senior men’s national team. During the session, the players conducted various sprinting drills and jogs. After completing these light exercises, the players gathered in circles to practice their passing skills. As these events unfolded, members of the Ukrainian-Canadian community were invited to watch the national team practice. Several children also chanted during the session, showing their support for the national team, the manager, and the players.
Members of the Ukrainian-Canadian diaspora gather to watch Ukraine’s open training session. Photo Credit: Mark Temnycky
The warmups then concluded, and the reporters exited the stadium. Members of the Ukrainian-Canadian community stayed behind to witness the remainder of the training session. This diaspora will be ready to support Ukraine during their match against Canada on Saturday, June 7.
Mark Temnycky is a nonresident fellow at the Atlantic Council’s Eurasia Center and a freelance journalist covering Eurasian affairs.