As years go for Canadian soccer, it doesn't get much better than 1986.
Obviously that was the year that Dale Mitchell hit the top of the crossbar against the USSR in Mexico and when young, impressionable Canadian soccer fans lived in a delusional world where they thought that Canada would be a regular participant in future World Cups.
The future looked bright. There was even evidence at the youth level where the Canadian u-20 team won the regional championship. The second place finisher that year was none other than the minnow to our south, the United States of America.
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Flash-forward 25 long and terribly frustrating years and Canada and the United States are once again set to finish 1-2 in a CONCACAF event. This time it's the u17s that will be facing off on Sunday with regional bragging rights on the line. It's the first time since '86 that the two countries finished as the top two in the same event. This piece of trivia is mostly on Canada. If you're reading this you likely don't need to be reminded of how the last quarter century has played out, nor do you need to remember that it's actually been longer since Canada beat the full senior side of the US (although if CONCACAF referees
However, things are shifting. Yes, the CSA still has a multitude of problems, and yes Canada is still second best more often than not in this sport, but it seems like soccer's time could be coming. If that happens then hopefully the full potential of what should be a spectacular rivalry could be realized.
We are already seeing it through MLS play. Every time TFC plays there is an element of international competition to it. We know each other very well and the rivalry is alive and well in several other sports, most notably hockey (Sunday's game comes 364 days after the Olympic gold medal game in Vancouver).
There is little doubt that Canadians are going to care a lot more about the outcome Sunday than Americans are. However, Uncle Sam's Army, and especially those in it that are also fans of TFC rivals, doesn't want to lose this either.
The North American derby (screw Mexico. No, really - screw them) - it's about time it mattered, eh?