USMNT: Why Canada Is a More Important Test Than Brazil

The United States men's national soccer team lost 4-1 to Brazil on Wednesday night at FedEx Field in Landover, Md. Despite the end result, Team USA received a great test by playing one of the best soccer teams in the world. 

But on Sunday night, the US will face a more important foe than Brazil: Canada. 

No, that's not a typo. 

Yes, I'm aware that Brazil is sixth in the FIFA world rankings, and Canada is 75th. 

But playing Brazil was not the point of this "five-game tournament," as Jurgen Klinsmann described this ongoing series of five games for the national team. 

Brazil was the second of the five games, the first three of which were friendlies. The friendly matches, however, were merely a warm-up for the first two games of the World Cup qualifying campaign. 

WCQ begins on June 8th for USA in Tampa, Fla. against Antigua & Barbuda. USA will then play Guatemala in Guatemala City on June 12th. 

Sunday night's game against Canada in Toronto is a better tune-up for the beginning of the journey to Brazil 2014 because, like Antigua & Barbuda, Guatemala and the United States, Canada plays in the CONCACAF region of FIFA.  Brazil plays in CONMEBOL. 

The US currently has a 27-year unbeaten streak against Canada, but this Canadian team happens to be the best from the Great White North in nearly a generation. 

They are currently ranked ninth in the region, and are led by two stars of the MLS: midfielder and reigning league MVP Dwayne De Rosario and striker Julian De Guzman. 

Canada plays in Group 3 with Panama, Honduras and Cuba, the fifth-, seventh- and 18th-ranked teams in the CONCACAF region, respectively. 

Les Rouges are playing in the weakest of the three groups in terms of the current FIFA rankings and therefore have a legitimate shot at advancing to the fourth and final round of CONCACAF qualifying. If they do so, they could then clinch a berth in their first World Cup since 1986. 

For the Americans, the most important aspect of this game will be experiencing an intense international rivalry fueled by competition on the professional and personal level. 

This same dynamic will exist in the majority of USA's CONCACAF qualifying matches.  Consequently, Sunday's game against Canada will foster the correct mentality for Team USA as they begin World Cup qualifying.  It may also preview a potential rematch in the next round of qualifying, when the stakes will be much higher. 

Samba Soccer may be sexier, but the Americans must master the Canadian Waltz to properly prepare for the big dance in 2014.