CanMNT to play Ukraine, Côte d'Ivoire in June in new annual Canadian Shield Tournament at BMO Field

Canada Soccer unveiled 'The Canadian Shield' on Wednesday, a new annual international tournament which will bring top men's national teams to BMO Field. 

Four teams will compete in the inaugural edition: Canada, Ukraine, Côte d'Ivoire and New Zealand. The competition is being presented by MLSE, SPORTFIVE and MIB Sport Agency. 

Canada take on Ukraine on Saturday, June 7, before meeting Côte d'Ivoire on Tuesday, June 10. New Zealand take on Côte d'Ivoire later in the day on the Saturday, and play Ukraine on Tuesday evening to round out the fixture list. 

“Every competitive match from now until the World Cup will be critical to get our team the preparation it needs ahead of welcoming the world next year," said Men's national team Head Coach Jesse Marsch. "This is an extraordinary addition to our annual competitive calendar and to be able to play at home in front of our fans again will be really special for our guys.” 

Ukraine are currently ranked 25th by FIFA, and look to qualify for their first World Cup tournament since a lone appearance at Germany 2006. They have, however, been involved in the past four Euros, including reaching the quarter-finals in 2020. 

Meanwhile, Cóte d'Ivoire rank 47th. They are the reigning African Cup of Nations Champions and will provide a great test for this Canadian team. 

These matches will serve as crucial preparation for Canada's Gold Cup campaign, which begins on June 14. It will also give BMO Field a chance to prepare for hosting duties at the 2026 FIFA World Cup next summer.