Canada and Tunisia set March friendly as part of 2026 World Cup preparations

Canada and Tunisia are set to meet in an international friendly on March 30 as both nations continue their build-up to the 2026 World Cup.

The match is expected to take place during the FIFA international window in March and will form part of a wider preparation programme for the tournament, which will be hosted jointly by Canada, Mexico and the United States.

The fixture offers Tunisia a valuable opportunity to familiarise themselves with conditions in one of the host nations well ahead of the opening match of the competition.

For the Eagles of Carthage, the encounter represents an important step in their long-term planning.

At the 2026 World Cup, Tunisia are scheduled to face a European play-off winner — with Ukraine, Poland, Albania or Sweden among the possible opponents — as well as Japan, with those matches due to be played in Guadalajara, Mexico.

They will then travel to the United States to take on the Netherlands in Kansas City.

Before those challenges, Tunisia’s coaching staff are keen to test their squad against opposition from the host nations.

The friendly against Canada is likely to be staged in Toronto, allowing the Tunisian players to experience local conditions and logistics in North America.

The team could also arrange a second friendly during the same window, on March 26 or 27, against an opponent yet to be confirmed.

The meeting will be only the second time the two nations have faced each other at senior level.

Their first encounter dates back more than four decades, when Tunisia secured a 2-0 victory over Canada on October 21, 1984, at the El-Menzah Stadium in Tunis.

Goals from Chihat and Hamda Ben Doulet sealed the win on that occasion, a result that remains the sole reference point between the two sides.

Canada, meanwhile, are also using the international windows to refine their World Cup preparations.

As one of the tournament’s host nations, the Canadian team are expected to play a series of high-level friendlies to sharpen their competitive edge.

At the 2026 World Cup, Canada are due to compete in a group that includes a European play-off winner — potentially Italy — alongside Qatar and Switzerland.

In addition to the Tunisia match, Canada have also scheduled a friendly against Uzbekistan on June 2, according to the same sources.

🚨 LE GROUPE DE LA TUNISIE POUR LA COUPE DU MONDE 2026 ! 🇹🇳🏆 pic.twitter.com/7lqbJ887es

— Noussour 🇹🇳 (@NoussourTN) December 5, 2025

That fixture carries wider implications within the international calendar, as Uzbekistan could later face the Democratic Republic of Congo should the Leopards advance via the intercontinental play-offs.

In that scenario, the Asian side would compete in Group K alongside Portugal and Colombia.

For Tunisia, the March international window is shaping up to be a key milestone on the road to 2026.

With the Africa Cup of Nations and World Cup qualifiers already demanding careful squad management, these friendlies provide a chance to assess tactical options, build cohesion, and gain experience against varied opposition.

The anticipated clash with Canada underlines Tunisia’s intention to prepare thoroughly for the unique demands of a World Cup spread across three countries.

As the countdown to 2026 continues, both teams are using every available opportunity to ensure they arrive at the tournament ready to compete on the global stage.