TORONTO

If you can't beat 'em, freeze 'em.

Thirty years to the day it last made a FIFA World Cup, Canada announced it will host Honduras in a key World Cup qualifier in Vancouver on Nov. 13. They'll need every advantage they can get, including climate.

"Our plan will be to have the roof open at BC Place in November," said Peter Montopoli, the Canadian Soccer Association's general secretary.

In other words, "it could be chilly."

With temperatures hovering just above freezing in Vancouver two months from now, the Hondurans will be, at the very least, uncomfortable in a northern climate they aren't accustomed to in CONCACAF.

With Toronto's BMO Field under construction later this year, the CSA was forced to move away from this country's national soccer stadium, where Canada stages all six of its home World Cup qualifiers during the 2014 World Cup cycle.

After knocking off Belize earlier this month, Canada moved into CONCACAF's fourth round, where they'll also meet El Salvador and Mexico in a four-team round-robin phase.

It's unclear where Canada will host its additional two group games, although BMO Field likely won't be an option next March when the Mexicans are scheduled to travel to the Great White North.

"I think it's a balanced group," Canada head coach Benito Floro said Monday. "We can say that Mexico is (at another level). But it doesn't mean Mexico will qualify easily. It is true that Mexico is above the rest.

"The team (Canada) is growing step by step, especially in communication and developing the tactical system.

"We are in good condition to say that the performances up until now have been good, but we need to increase."

Good, but not great. And some would argue Canada has been sub-standard under Floro's guidance.

After failing to score a goal at this past summer's Gold Cup, Canada laboured to an eventual 4-1 aggregate Round 3 World Cup qualifying win over lowly Belize, where they drew 1-1 in the return leg.

During Floro's three years in charge Canada doesn't have a marquee win to speak of.

"In this moment our players are in a good mentality, a winning mentality," Floro insisted. "I think they are ready to fight."

The CSA's hoping they can do it in front of boisterous home support.

Canada's inability to draw fans in Toronto hasn't gone unnoticed.

In three key qualifiers back in 2012, Canada struggled to fill BMO Field, drawing less than 18,000 on all three occasions.

With Monday's announcement, Vancouver has an opportunity to become the new unofficial home of Canada's men's soccer team, which , unlike Canada's women's team, has struggled to garner nation-wide support.

"We're hopeful that Canada will now support the men's program," Montopoli said. "It's time the men's program takes centre stage."

Vancouver Whitecaps midfielder Russell Teibert, who attended the announcement, expects local supporters to trade in their blue and white for red.

"They support us week in and week out," Teibert said of Vancouver soccer fans. "We have an exciting team with the Vancouver Whitecaps. That resembles our national team. Our fans are our 12th man. They can become a 12th man for the Canadian national team as well."

In preparation for November's qualifying matches, the CSA also confirmed Monday Canada's men will play against African powerhouse Ghana in a friendly at Washington's RFK Stadium on Oct. 13.

After hosting Honduras a month later, Canada will travel to El Salvador for a Nov. 17 World Cup qualifying match before back-to-back games against Mexico in March. Canada rounds out Round 4 qualifying in Honduras on Sept. 2 and home to El Salvador on Sept. 6.

The top two teams from Canada's four-team group progress to CONCACAF's final round of qualifying.

kurtis.larson@sunmedia.ca

twitter.com/KurtLarSUN