Front Burner

Canada vs. Messi, Argentina

As Canada’s men’s national team prepares to take on Lionel Messi’s Argentina in the semi final of the Copa America soccer tournament, we take a look at the years-long project that brought Canada’s soccer program from relative obscurity to the biggest moment in their history.
A Canadian men's soccer player pursues an Argentine opponent from behind as the latter bumps the ball off his chest during group stage play at the Copa America tournament on June 20, 2024 in Atlanta.
Argentina's Lionel Messi, left, stayed in Thursday night's Copa America game after he was tackled by Moise Bombito, right, and assisted on a goal in his team's 2-0 victory in its Copa America title defence in Atlanta. (Agustin Marcarian/Reuters)

The Canadian men's soccer team is set to take on Lionel Messi and Argentina, the current holders of the World Cup and No.1 ranked team in the world, in the semifinals of the Copa America soccer tournament. 

The game is arguably the biggest match in Canadian soccer history.


James Sharman is a longtime soccer journalist and host of the Footy Prime podcast. He'll share how this marks the culmination of a years-long project which has taken the Canadian program from relative obscurity to legitimacy.

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