Superstars Christine Sinclair and Marta meet up before Road to Rio series begins

Canada’s Captain Christine Sinclair and Brazil star Marta met at BMO Field for a press conference Friday, a day before they will face off in a two-match series in Toronto and Ottawa starting Saturday, 4 June.

Canada has maintained a rivalry with Brazil going back many years with a record of five wins, five ties and six loses since 1996, something both Marta and Sinclair addressed at the media conference, before remarking on the immense respect each have for the other.

Watch the full press conference on Canada Soccer Facebook.

In recent months, Canada fell twice to Brazil in Brazil in a four nation’s tournament in Natal in December, before coming back and defeating the Brazilian side in the final of the Algarve Cup in Portugal in March.

“Hosting Brazil here in Canada gives us a great opportunity to prepare for the Olympics,” said Peter Montopoli, Canada Soccer General Secretary. “But it also gives us an opportunity to share our Olympic journey with Canadian soccer fans from coast to coast. The Canada Soccer Road to Rio series will bring home to our fans a taste of what’s to come in Rio this summer.”

With less than 2,000 tickets left for Saturday’s Toronto match and less than 3,000 for Ottawa, the Canada Soccer Road to Rio series is sure give fans a real taste of what is to come this summer at the 2016 Rio Olympics, at home on Canadian soil.

With both matches heading towards sell-out crowds – over 90% of tickets are sold for the Toronto match on 4 June and over 85% are sold for the Ottawa match on 7 June – fans are encouraged to purchase their tickets now to ensure they get a spot to see Canada play Brazil LIVE on home soil.

Fans unable to attend the matches in person will have the opportunity to catch all the action on TSN. Starting at 16:00 on 4 June on TSN1, TSN3, TSN4 and TSN5, and again on 7 June starting at 19:00 on TSN1, TSN3, TSN4 and TSN5.

Ticket information for Canada v Brazil at BMO Field in Toronto, June 4th 2016: Fans can purchase tickets through Ticketmaster, by phone 1.855.985.5000, or in person from Ticketmaster retail outlets.

Ticket information for Canada v Brazil at TD Place in Ottawa, June 7th 2016: Tickets are on sale via CapitalTickets.ca, by phone at 613-599-FANS (3267), and in person at the TD Place Box Office.