Canadian men's soccer team to face Japan in final warmup match before World Cup

Canada will play Japan on Nov. 17 in Dubai in its final warmup game before the World Cup in Qatar.

The game is set for Al Maktoum Stadium in the United Arab Emirates. .

Drawn in Group F, the Canadian men are scheduled to open World Cup play on Nov. 23 against No. 2 Belgium while Japan kicks off Group E play the same day against Germany.

"With an eight-week gap between our September matches [against Qatar and Uruguay] and our first match at the FIFA World Cup, it is important for our players to experience that level of international intensity with our pre-tournament match against Japan," Canada coach John Herdman said in a statement.

"Japan have consistently progressed from the group stage at recent FIFA World Cups, so it will be a good test for the group."

Canada to face Japan as part of final preparations for 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar™