Canada has lined up a replacement for the cancelled World Cup tune-up game against Iran in Vancouver this weekend. It will be fellow CONCACAF Octagonal adversary Panama that will the void left by last Thursday’s abrupt announcement that game with Iran was called off.
The 63rd FIFA ranked Panamanians sit considerably lower than the 21st Iranians, and will not serve as well for broadening the CANMNT’s experience against non-CONCACAF opposition. But, it was clear to most Canadians, soccer fans or not, that inviting Iran to play in Canada was as politically untenable as it was morally irresponsible.