It was for too early for a dress rehearsal and, with the main course still 12 months away, not yet appetizer time, either. Article content

But when Canada’s men’s national team convincingly defeated Ukraine 4-2 at BMO Field this past weekend, it certainly was an opportunity to unofficially launch the build to what by any measure will be the biggest year for elite soccer in this country. Article content Article content

One year from Wednesday, the largest FIFA World Cup in history will kick off with a pair of games in Mexico. The following night, the other two host nations — Canada and the United States — lift the curtain fully with games on their own respective soil.

For coach Jesse Marsch’s Canadian side, the debut in the world’s most-watched sporting spectacle begins with a Toront

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