After calls for a place to buy kits with their favourite men’s and women’s national team players on the back, the prayers of Canadian soccer fans have been answered.
Canada Soccer announced a partnership with Fanatics, a leading retailer of sports merchandise, on Friday afternoon, giving fans the option to buy custom kits, and other Canada gear at a level they’ve never been able to before.
Fans can now buy merchanside at CanadaSoccerStore.com, as well as in-stadium (whenever fans can return) — the partnership also allows Fanatics to operate retail at men’s and women’s national team matches.
Canada Soccer and Fanatics introduce new retail partnership to enhance fan shopping experience, launch https://t.co/6V4T8HDybA. https://t.co/cJZX9NBvhn
— Canada Soccer (@CanadaSoccerEN) June 4, 2021
“We are incredibly proud to introduce our new retail partnership with Fanatics,” said Peter Montopoli, Canada Soccer General Secretary in a press release. “As an innovative global leader in sports retail, we are confident that Fanatics is the right partner to deliver a top-class shopping experience to the passionate fans of Canada Soccer’s National Teams from coast-to-coast-to-coast.
“We believe this relationship represents a key building block as we continue to deliver on our commitment to grow and develop the sport across our country and provide a key platform for our fans to support the National Teams on the world’s biggest stages.”
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As part of the announcement and launch of the online shop, Canada Soccer also unveiled new kits for the men’s national team, who will continue their World Cup Qualifying campaign on Saturday evening.
As well as a black third kit, the red home kit has also been altered, with a wavy pattern added to the sleeves.
The Canadian women’s national team was already playing with different kits from the men’s team – a red home kit with geometric leaves, and a white away kit with a red collar. The red women’s kit is also available for purchase, just not in men’s sizes yet.
Canada’s men’s side could sport the new look as early as Saturday when John Herdman and co. take on Aruba (8pm ET/5pm PT on OneSoccer) in their third match of qualifying for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
The new #CanMNT Kit is here. On sale now – https://t.co/wwERemh9S1 pic.twitter.com/QPamub4hNT
— Canada Soccer (@CanadaSoccerEN) June 4, 2021