Ricardo Ferreira will represent Canada starting in 2021 after his change of national associations was approved. Ferreira joins Canada Soccers Mens National Team Program ahead of an exciting and full 2021 international calendar that features FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Qualifiers starting in March 2021.
We have worked hard to build the trust in Canada Soccers Mens National Team Program through our performances on the field and work off the field, said John Herdman, Canada Soccers Mens National Team Head Coach. Ricardo Ferreira is a modern centre back who has played at good levels in Europe, so we look forward to adding his experience to the Mens National Team Program in 2021.
Ferreira, a right-footed centre back, most recently played for SC Farense in Portugal. He is a former Portugal Cup winner with SC Braga and has played professional football in both Italy and Portugal. He also helped SC Braga reach the Quarter-Final stage of UEFA Europa League in 2015-16. At the international level, he represented Portugal at the youth level from 2008 to 2012 and made one appearance at the international A level in a 2017 friendly match.
Before moving to Portugal, Ferreira of Mississauga, Ontario played for Dixie SC, Brampton YSC and TFC Academy. He won the Canada Soccer U-14 Cup with Brampton Blast in 2006 and took part in Canada Soccers National Training Centre in Vaughan, Ontario. He also played for Ontarios youth select teams.
Ferreira is the latest player to switch national associations to represent Canada at the international level. Since 2018, other players that have chosen to represent Canada Soccers Mens National Team include Theo Corbeanu , Stephen Eustquio, Cristin Gutirrez, Frank Sturing and David Wotherspoon. In all, 21 different players have made their international A debut for Canada since 2018 including youngsters Zachary Brault-Guillard, Derek Cornelius, Jonathan David, Liam Fraser, Liam Millar, Jayden Nelson and Ballou Tabla.
As part of a busy 2021 international calendar, Canada Soccers Mens National Team are scheduled to face Aruba, Bermuda, Cayman Islands and Suriname in an initial round of four matches in FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Qualifiers in March and June. Also in March, Canada Soccers Mens U-23 National Team will compete in the Concacaf Mens Olympic Qualifying in Guadalajara, Mexico. In July, Canada Soccers Mens National Team are scheduled to compete in the Concacaf Gold Cup with group stage matches against Martinique, USA and a yet-to-be determined third opponent.
MEDIA CONTACTS
Brad FougereCorporate Communications | Communications corporatives
bfougere@canadasoccer.com
m. +1 613.299.1587
Richard Scott
National Teams Program | Programme de l’quipe nationale
rscott@canadasoccer.com
m. +1 613.818.0305