International Friendly

Why has the Haiti vs Iceland match been delayed and why is it being played behind closed doors?

This evening’s international friendly at BMO Field in Toronto was due to kick off at 9:30 a.m. but has been delayed for half an hour.

This evening’s international friendly at BMO Field in Toronto was due to kick off at 9:30 a.m. but has been delayed for half an hour.
VAUGHN RIDLEY
Update:

Haiti and Iceland are due to go head-to-head on Tuesday in the final series of international friendlies in this month’s FIFA window.

The match was set to be played in front of paying fans at BMO Field in Toronto but a few days ago, organizers decided to hold the game behind closed doors due to “operational considerations related to ticket sales”. Fans that did buy tickets will be fully refunded, a Canada Soccer spokesperson said.

And there was more issues on the morning of the game. Leading up to kick-off, Toronto was hit by severe thunderstorms, causing torrential downpours and flooding. Kick-off was scheduled for 9 a.m. but has been delayed because of lightning.

Haiti head into tough World Cup group

Haiti qualified for the World Cup for the first time since 1974 and have landed in Group C alongside Brazil, Morocco and Scotland. They head into today’s friendly after losing 1-0 loss to Tunisia.

Iceland meanwhile didn’t manage to book a place at this summer’s showpiece. Arnar Gunnlaugsson’s men played out a 2-2 draw with Canada at the weekend.

While the delayed game will be played behind closed doors, viewers can still follow the action on Fox Sports, Fubo TV, and ViX.

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