CANWNT returns home to face Denmark in October friendlies before World Cup qualifying

Photo by Canada Soccer (CS)

MONTREAL — Canada's women are finally coming home.

Casey Stoney's side hosts Denmark twice in the October international window: Friday, Oct. 9 at Stade Saputo in Montreal, a 7 p.m. ET kickoff that doubles as the team's annual Pride Celebration Match, and Monday, Oct. 12 at BMO Field in Toronto at 3:30 p.m. ET.

It has been more than a year since the women played on home soil. These are the last matches before November's Concacaf W Championship, where World Cup 2027 and LA 2028 Olympic berths are on the line. So the timing is perfect and the opponent is serious: Denmark is ranked 12th in the world, three spots behind No. 9 Canada, and the all-time series is dead even at three wins apiece. Canada took the last meeting 1-0 at the 2017 Algarve Cup.

"Playing a team like Denmark gives us a really good opportunity to test ourselves and put the final pieces in place ahead of the Concacaf W Championship," Stoney said. "Denmark is a very organized team with some great offensive threats, so we know these will be two really competitive matches. It's also been more than a year since we've played at home, and we're really looking forward to reconnecting with our supporters in Montreal and Toronto."

Tune-up is the polite word. With qualifying weeks away, these two games are the dress rehearsal.