Canada's men to play September friendlies vs. Romania, Wales in preparation for 2026 World Cup

The Canadian men's soccer team has added another fixture to its increasingly busy slate: It will travel to Bucharest to face 38th-ranked Romania on Sept. 5.

The match is part of the men's intensifying preparations for next year's World Cup, which Canada will co-host along with the United States and Mexico.

"Romania are a really strong team that finished top of a difficult group at Euro 2024," head coach Jesse Marsch said in a statement. He called the match "another important challenge" in the buildup to 2026.

The announcement will come as something of a relief for Marsch, after Canada Soccer elected not to play friendlies during last month's international window because of financial constraints.

Four days after the Romanian match, the Canadians will face Wales in Swansea.

Canada is currently ranked 31st in the world, its highest-ever position, but will face a stiff test from Romania in unfamiliar Bucharest. The two sides have never met.

Even absent the excuse of history, Romanian soccer culture is passionate. Bucharest is home to FCSB, formerly known as Steaua Bucharest, Romania's traditionally dominant club side, as well as rivals Dinamo and Rapid.

Matches are heavily policed, visiting fans are segregated, and alcohol is banned at the 55,000-seat National Arena and in surrounding neighbourhoods as well.

Romania will be in the middle of its World Cup qualifying campaign when Canada visits, with a game against Cyprus four days later.

As co-host, Canada has received an automatic berth to the tournament.

Marsch starts full press June 1

That makes exhibitions vital for Marsch, especially against top-40 competition. He's cited June 1—a year before Canada kicks off its World Cup campaign in Toronto on June 12, 2026 — as the start of his full press, "firing on all cylinders in all ways."

By then, his side will have travelled to Los Angeles to face Mexico in the CONCACAF Nations League semifinal in March, with the winner facing either the U.S. or Panama in the final.

Next, Canada will compete in the Gold Cup, which will be held in 14 cities across North America, including Vancouver, starting in June.

Then will come Romania in Bucharest, each another critical hurdle before the Canadian men face their ultimate test: hosting, and beating, the world.

Canada boasts a 2-1-0 record all-time against the Welsh.

"We're excited to be playing another high-quality opponent in Wales in September," Marsch said in a statement. "Most of their players are playing in the [English] Premier League and [second-tier] Championship which will make for an excellent test for our group."

Canada won 2-0 and lost 3-0 when the two sides met in Toronto and Vancouver, respectively, in May 1986 ahead of Canada's debut trip to the World Cup. The Welsh won 1-0 in Wrexham in May 2004.

Wales missed out on Euro 2024, losing a penalty shootout to visiting Poland in a playoff final.

Wales is unbeaten in six games (3-0-3) since Craig Bellamy, a former Welsh captain who played for Liverpool and Manchester City, took charge in early July.