Welcome to #canadared: Ricardo Ferreira joins Canada soccer’s men’s national team program

Ricardo Ferreira will represent Canada starting in 2021 after his change of national associations was approved. Ferreira joins Canada Soccer’s Men’s 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 Soccer’s Men’s National Team Program through our performances on the field and work off the field,” said John Herdman, Canada Soccer’s Men’s 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 Men’s 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 Soccer’s National Training Centre in Vaughan, Ontario. He also played for Ontario’s 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 Soccer’s Men’s National Team include Theo Corbeanu , Stephen Eustáquio, Cristián Gutiérrez, 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 Soccer’s Men’s 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 Soccer’s Men’s U-23 National Team will compete in the Concacaf Men’s Olympic Qualifying in Guadalajara, Mexico. In July, Canada Soccer’s Men’s National Team are scheduled to compete in the 2021 Concacaf Gold Cup with group stage matches against Martinique, USA and a yet-to-be determined third opponent.

CS/MS