Atlantic Canada’s best-emerging soccer talent will face European competition this July in Halifax. 

A third and final match at the Wanderers Grounds will close out the International Summer Series when the Halifax Wanderers U23 side plays German club Holstein Kiel U23 on Saturday, July 8. 

“We’re delighted to compete against a squad of Holstein Kiel’s pedigree this summer,” Halifax Wanderers Sporting Director Matt Fegan said. “This is an opportunity to test our development players against quality opposition as well as for our coaches and staff to build connections with an international club with a similar vision for developing young playing talent.”

In collaboration with German-based organization Onside Sports, the International Summer Series features three matches between the two sides spread across the Maritimes. The opening match kicks off on July 2 in Moncton at the Croix-Bleue Medavie Stadium (3 p.m.), followed by July 5 at the University of Prince Edward Island Alumni Field in Charlottetown (6 p.m.). 

Wanderers U23 is the Halifax Wanderers (Canadian Premier League) development squad comprised of players developed in Atlantic Canada and players currently playing in AUS and ACAA programs. The team focuses on providing development pathways for local athletes and expanding the growth of the sport within Atlantic Canada with the goal of producing local players for the Wanderers’ first team in the CPL. Select first-team Canadian Premier League players needing valuable competitive minutes will also feature in the series. 

“This is an important step in our club’s development plans as we continue to create new opportunities for our region’s top players. Our goal is to identify those ready to make the next step into the professional game as well as to raise the standard of players retained in our area as we also work to help launch a League One Atlantic in the near future,” Fegan said.

The development team played a pair of friendlies at the Wanderers Grounds in 2022 against PLSQ sides CS St-Hubert and CS Saint Laurent. Players have been training regularly throughout the spring and were involved in friendly matches against the Wanderers’ first team, an Ottawa Selects squad and teams in Nova Scotia’s premier senior men’s league. 

“This season, our coaches have identified a group of dedicated players who were willing to relocate or remain in Halifax for the summer. They have been integrated into our first team training plans as well as focused development squad sessions and friendlies. Understanding our playing style and methodologies is key to smooth the transition for those ready to make the next step to our first team in future seasons and prepare others to continue their development in our system going forwards.”

Holstein Kiel is a German professional club currently playing in the 2. Bundesliga. Founded in 1900, they have been one of the emerging teams in the country over the past 10 years. The club famously upset Bayern Munich in the second round of the 2021 German Cup (DFB-Pokal), going on a run to the semi-finals of the competition. They are based in Kiel, a northern German city. 

“We are looking forward to this unique experience of a training camp in such a special surrounding,” Holstein Kiel Youth Academy Manager Dominic Peitz said. “We are also happy to offer our highest education team this intercontinental exchange and excited about the games against the Halifax Wanderers.” 

Holstein Kiel is the second Bundesliga 2. club to visit Atlantic Canada for a friendly series. In 2018, Fortuna Dusseldorf played against an Atlantic Selects team in a showcase event before the launch of the Canadian Premier League. The team was led by the Wanderers management and featured local talent, including Nova Scotia’s Jacob Shaffelburg (currently with Nashville, MLS) and drew 2-2 in front of 5,000 fans at Wanderers Grounds before going on to win the penalty shootout. 

Tickets for the match on July 8 in Halifax are available now by clicking here. Tickets for July 2 in Moncton and July 5 in Charlottetown will be available soon. 

About Onside Sports: Onside Sports is one of the leading pre-season agencies for professional football in Europe. They have organized almost 500 training camps, friendlies and tournaments in the last two years alone, including clubs in the Bundesliga, La Liga and English Premier League.