 | ||
| Nickname(s) | Les Québécois | |
|---|---|---|
| Association | Quebec Soccer Federation | |
| Head coach | Patrick Leduc | |
| Top scorer | Pascal Aoun Cedric Carrie (2) | |
| ||
| First international | ||
 Quebec 21–0 Tibet  (Marseille, France; 24 June 2013) | ||
| Last international | ||
Quebec 2–1 UGA Ardeiv  (Marseille, France; 28 June 2013) | ||
| Biggest win | ||
| Quebec 21–0 Tibet (Marseille, France; 24 June 2013) | ||
| Biggest defeat | ||
Quebec 0–1 Kurdistan Region  (Marseille, France; 27 June 2013) | ||
The Québec official soccer team (French: équipe de soccer officielle du Québec) is the official soccer team representing the Canadian province of Québec. The stated mission of the team is "...to allow Québec to be represented at the international level to share our language, our culture and heritage through soccer."[1] Originally, the team was not sanctioned by the Quebec Soccer Federation as the federation was suspended by the Canadian Soccer Association in June 2013 for not allowing players wearing turbans for religious reasons to participate in matches.[2] However, the team communicated with the federation and regularly communicated the progress of the project to build a relationship in preparation for being sanctioned in the future.[3][4] In May 2014, it was announced that the team had officially become associated with the QSF and were working together to perhaps eventually become a member of CONCACAF and play against other national teams.[5] Québec is not a member of FIFA or any confederation or subconfederation as they are wholly a part of Canada.[6] However, Québec is an official member of the Confederation of Independent Football Associations (ConIFA), a global umbrella organization for national football teams outside FIFA. Usually in Québec, the majority of the population speak French, while English is the largest minority.[7] Although the purpose of the team is said to be cultural, not political, the team is partially funded by the Saint-Jean-Baptiste Society and Parti Québécois, a Canadian political party that advocates the Québec sovereignty movement.[8] The team was formed in 2013 and played its first match against a Tibet select team in the 2013 International Peoples, Cultures, and Tribes Tournament, an event hosted by Marseille as the 2013 European Capital of Culture,[9] on 24 June 2013. Québec won the match 21–0.[6][10] The team currently consists mostly of players from the Première Ligue de soccer du Québec and former Montreal Impact players.[11] They are currently coached by former Canadian international Patrick Leduc.[11]
- ^ "Soutien financier du gouvernement du Québec de plus de 25 000$" (in French). lesquebecois.org. Archived from the original on 4 July 2013. Retrieved 21 June 2013.
- ^ "TURBAN BAN PROMPTS SUSPENSION OF QUEBEC FEDERATION". AP. Retrieved 11 June 2013.
- ^ "PREMIER TEST POUR "L'ÉQUIPE DU QUÉBEC"" (in French). TVAsports.ca. Retrieved 25 June 2013.
- ^ Wyman, Mike. "Leduc hopes new Quebec "national" team won't be a one-off deal". the11.ca. Archived from the original on 18 August 2013. Retrieved 21 June 2013.
- ^ "Les Québécois s'associeront à la Fédération de soccer du Québec, mais la sélection nationale n'ira pas en Suède". lesquebecois.org. Archived from the original on 22 May 2014. Retrieved 21 May 2014.
- ^ a b "LE QUÉBEC ÉCRASE LE TIBET" (in French). TVAsports.ca. Retrieved 25 June 2013.
- ^ "Members". ConIFA. Retrieved 10 October 2013.
- ^ "TEAM QUEBEC SAYS SOCCER, not POLITICS, THE GOAL AT TOURNAMENT". TSN. Retrieved 21 June 2013.
- ^ "COMMUNICATION DE L'ÉQUIPE QUÉBÉCOISE POUR SA PARTICIPATION AU TOURNOIS DES PEUPLES, CULTURES ET TRIBUS" (in French). www.prouvenco-football.org. Archived from the original on 24 June 2013. Retrieved 21 June 2013.
- ^ "Québec to make debut in Tournoi des Cultures et Peoples". Non-FIFA Football. Retrieved 24 June 2013.
- ^ a b Tremblay, Olivier. "No Patrice Bernier, but Quebec national team dream becomes reality for ex-Montreal Impact midfielder". Major League Soccer. Retrieved 20 June 2013.