Canada Builds on World Cup Success as Friendlies Begin
Listen to the story
Canada's soccer team is playing new games. These are called friendlies. Friendlies are games that do not count in a big competition.
The games are part of a special time in September and October. This time is called a FIFA window. During this time, national teams from many countries play matches.
Canada wants to do well after its success at the World Cup. The World Cup is the biggest soccer competition in the world. Canada played in it recently.
One important player is Junior Hoilett. He has played for Canada for ten years. People say he helped make the team strong.
Hoilett is now leaving the CanMNT. CanMNT means the Canada Men's National Team. People say he leaves the team in a better place than before.
Fans want to see if young players can keep the team's success going. The new games will show how strong Canada's team is now.
Vocabulary15 words
- friendlies
- games that are not part of a big competition
- FIFA window
- a special time when national soccer teams play games
- World Cup
- the biggest soccer competition for countries
- Junior Hoilett
- a soccer player from Canada
- CanMNT
- short name for Canada's Men's National Team
- national team
- a sports team that plays for a whole country
- decade
- a period of ten years
- success
- doing something well
- competition
- an event where teams try to win
- fans
- people who like and support a team
- young players
- new, not old, sports players
- match
- a game between two teams
- strong
- very good and powerful
- progress
- getting better over time
- leaving
- going away from a team or place
📚 Ready to use these words in a real conversation?
Practice live with a real tutor on Preply.
Quiz
Answer key
1. Games that do not count in a big competition 2. A decade 3. True
✅ Nice work on the quiz!
Keep the momentum going — book a live English lesson with a Preply tutor.
Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
Canada's soccer team is playing new games. These are called _____.
Friendlies are games that do not count in a big _____.
The games are part of a special time in September and _____.
This time is called a _____ window.
Canada wants to do well after its success at the _____.
One important player is Junior _____.
He has played for Canada for ten _____.
Hoilett is now leaving the _____.
People say he leaves the team in a _____ place than before.
Fans want to see if young players can keep the team's success _____.
🎓 Enjoyed this story?
Turn today's reading into real speaking practice with a live Preply tutor.
