BOGOTA, June 26 (Xinhua) -- Colombia and Canada will meet in an international friendly in October as they seek to step up preparations for next year's FIFA World Cup, both countries' football federations said on Thursday.
The fixture will be played in New Jersey on October 14, coinciding with an official FIFA international window.
"We look forward to facing more South American competition following our experience at the 2024 Copa America," Canada Soccer said in a statement on its official website.
"Colombia is the type of high-level opponent that we want to be competing against as we continue our preparations for the upcoming World Cup," it added.
Canada has automatically qualified for the 2026 World Cup as co-hosts alongside the United States and Mexico.
Colombia is currently sixth in South America's qualifying group and will play its last two qualifiers against Bolivia at home and Venezuela away in September.
The group's top six teams will earn automatic entry to football's showpiece tournament while the seventh-ranked side will dispute a playoff. ■
