Canada enters the World Cup year on a winning streak and heading in the right direction, according to coach Jesse Marsh.
Ismael Kone scored in the first half and was red-carded in the second as Canada wrapped up its 2025 schedule with a 2-0 win over Venezuela on Tuesday in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, in a testy match in which both teams finished with 10 players.
Promising replacement David scored a late goal as the Canadian men improved to 7-2-5 in 2025, with two of those ties resulting in shootout defeats (against Ivory Coast in the Canadian Shield Tournament and against Guatemala in the Gold Cup quarterfinals).
Kone's goal ended Canada's 342-minute drought, which began with Derek Cornelius' highlight-reel free kick in a 1-0 win over Wales on Sept. 9.
“We scored two goals, but I think this team has more skill on the ball and more opportunities in the final third.” [of the field] to create more chances,” Marsh said. “But at the same time they always give intensity, faith and aggressiveness.”
“There is still more work to be done, but we have made a lot of progress, especially in the last three months,” he added.
It was the fifth shutout in the last six games for Canada, which has outscored its opponents 6-1 in that stretch (3-1-2).
Next up is the World Cup draw on December 5th in Washington, DC.
Before the World Cup begins on June 11, there are only two FIFA international windows remaining – March 23-31 and June 1-9. Marsh said he hopes to hold the camp in January.
Canada, ranked 28th in the world, led 1-0 after a choppy first half in front of a small crowd at Chase Stadium, home of Inter Miami. Although No. 50 Venezuela had 62 percent of the ball, it didn't produce much as Canada held a 5-2 lead in shots (2-1 in shots on target) through the first 45 minutes.
Kone opened the scoring in the 23rd minute, winning a free kick right in the Venezuelan half of the field. Richie Laryea's ensuing cross bounced off a defender to the unmarked Kon, whose deflected shot beat Venezuela goalkeeper Jose Contreras for his fourth goal in 37 appearances for Canada.
Goals from Ismael Kone and Promise David were confirmed as Canada beat Venezuela 2-0 in a friendly on Tuesday in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
David completed the counter-attack in the 83rd minute, tapping in Niko Sigur's cross for his third goal for Canada.
Venezuela was reduced to 10 men in the 57th minute when substitute David Martinez, a 19-year-old Los Angeles winger, was shown a straight red card for attacking Larrieu after the two became tangled with the ball.
American referee Rubiel Vazquez sent Kone off three minutes later for a high kick that caught Kevin Kelce as the Canadian attempted to knock down a high ball.
Venezuela threatened to take a corner in the 68th minute, but Teo Quintero headed wide. Jesus Ramirez forced Canadian goalkeeper Max Crepeau to make a great save and hit the goal post in stoppage time.
In addition to the red cards, Vazquez issued seven yellow cards, five of which went to Canada.
Wayne Gretzky, who had a home near the stadium, visited the Canadian locker room before the game, shaking hands and talking with players. The hockey legend was awarded Canada's jersey number 99.
“I don't think there could be a better person to come and talk to our team about being Canadian, about unity, about fighting for country,” Marsh said. “He was fantastic.”
Marsh made four changes to his starting line-up.
Crepeau started in goal, and English-born defender Alfie Jones, having finally been able to take the oath of citizenship, made his debut in Canada. The Middlesbrough centre-back, whose Canadian connections come through his late Alberta-born grandmother, is joined in the back row by Cornelius.
Cornelius, who was ruled out of Thursday's scoreless draw against Ecuador in Toronto with a knock, made way for Joel Waterman in the 33rd minute.
Jones looked comfortable cutting in to hold off the Venezuelan attack midway through the first half. The six-foot-three defender also looked like a good target from set-pieces.
Winger Jayden Nelson replaces the suspended Ali Ahmed, who returned to Vancouver Whitecaps after his red card against Ecuador.
The Canadians were missing the injured Alphonso Davies, Moise Bombito, Alistair Johnston and Sam Adekugbe. Cyle Larin and Junior Hoilett were called to camp, but they had hits.
Venezuela defeated No. 25 Australia 1-0 in a friendly in Houston on Friday. The win over the Socceroos snapped Venezuela's four-game losing streak this year, which ended with Tuesday's game with a 3-6-0 record.
Venezuela failed to qualify for next year's World Cup after finishing eighth in the 10-team South American qualifying competition with a score of 4-8-6. A failure to qualify has cost Venezuela coach Fernando Batista his job after 20 months at the helm. Fernando Aristeguieta is the interim coach.
Canada defeated Venezuela in a penalty shootout after a 1-1 draw. The last time they met was in the quarter-finals of the 2024 Copa America.
The two previous meetings ended in a draw in Venezuela – 1:1 in May 2010 in Merida and 2:2 in June 2007 in Maracaibo.
Curacao makes World Cup history
Curacao salvaged a 0-0 draw with Jamaica on Tuesday to become the smallest country by population competing for the World Cup. They will be joined by CONCACAF teams Panama and Haiti, who have also booked their spots.
Curaçao finished as the only undefeated country in the tournament and finished first in Group B with 12 points to qualify for the World Cup for the first time in its history.
Curacao achieved the historic result they needed despite the absence of their coach Dick Advocaat. on the bench. Advocaat, 78, missed the crucial match after having to return to the Netherlands last weekend for family reasons.
The country's population stood at 156,115 as of January last year, according to Curacao's Central Bureau of Statistics. Iceland, with a population of just over 350,000, was the smallest country to compete at the World Cup when it qualified for the tournament in Russia in 2018.
Panama qualified for its second World Cup after beating El Salvador 3-0 to finish as the top team in Group A with 12 points.
Haiti, the troubled Caribbean nation, had a surprising campaign, winning Group C against favorites Honduras and Costa Rica after beating Nicaragua 2-0. Haiti's only previous trip to the World Cup was to Germany in 1974.
