Welcome to the Iceteca.
Ahead of the men’s national team’s 2022 World Cup qualifying match against Mexico later today, weather conditions in Canada have been a hot topic.
Canada has never beaten the Mexicans in a competitive match, though they did draw against the team 1-1 at the famed Stadio Azteca last month in qualifying.
You can probably see where this one is going.
With temperatures expected to be below freezing and with snow making its way to Edmonton throughout Tuesday, the official Canada Soccer account put out a new nickname for Edmonton’s Commonwealth Stadium.
Estadio #Iceteca 🥶🇨🇦
(let's get that trending, eh?)
Edmonton! We're counting on you to make this our Frozen Fortress tonight. You know what to do!#CANMNT #WCQ #ForCanada pic.twitter.com/TELcxdQHEY
— Canada Soccer (@CanadaSoccerEN) November 16, 2021
At press time, #Iceteca was the No. 1 trending topic in Canada.
Canadians reacted to the new Iceteca moniker:
They have the Azteca, we have the Iceteca. Defend the North, Canada. 🇨🇦⚽️
— Infokid (@Infokid1Infokid) November 16, 2021
Canada's gotta win, or at least not lose to Mexico in the #IceTeca before this nickname really sticks, but I am all for it. https://t.co/hzD4JMmynP
— Julian McKenzie (@jkamckenzie) November 16, 2021
Right, for the rest of the day I'm all in on the #Iceteca hashtag.
— Allan (@offsidetwice) November 16, 2021
— DarrenInOttawa (@DarrenInOttawa) November 16, 2021
“We’re Canadian, we’re built for this weather,” Canadian star Alphonso Davies said at Sunday’s training. “I don’t know what to say about the Mexicans… I hope they enjoy the snow, enjoy the weather.”
TV Azteca reporter Carlos Guerrero offered a report from a wintry Commonwealth Stadium on Tuesday morning.
¡Es #AhoraONunca! 🔥
¡México jamás ha perdido en eliminatoria ante los canadienses!
🎙 @CARLOSLGUERRERO#CanadávsMéxico 🇨🇦🆚🇲🇽
📅ESTA NOCHE
⏰7:50 PM
📲📺 Azteca 7, https://t.co/Dz2WHeJOqv, y App. pic.twitter.com/GQY7jtDrk3— TV Azteca Deportes (@AztecaDeportes) November 16, 2021
Temperature is set for around -7° Celsius at kickoff, though it could feel as cold as -15°.
Mexican Media member Heliodoro Hinojosa Rodríguez said that the Mexican team would be playing “in a freezer”.
SENSACIÓN DE -23@miseleccionmx jugará en un congelador.#EliminatoriasQatar2022 pic.twitter.com/oszsmoejBg
— Helio H (@heliodoroh) November 16, 2021
Canada is looking to build off a 1-0 win in Edmonton against Costa Rica on Friday, while Mexico is coming off a 2-0 loss to the USA.
Canada sits third in the eight-team CONCACAF final qualifying round standings, while Mexico sits second.
The match is set to kickoff at 7:05 pm Mountain Time. (6 pm PT/ 9 pm ET), and can be viewed on Sportsnet, OneSoccer, and RDS.