Tonight’s friendly against FC Edmonton at 6 p.m. at Centennial Stadium represents a serious upgrade in opponent for the Victoria Highlanders.

article continues below

The Highlanders play in the USL Premier Development League, the highest level of amateur soccer in North America. But FC Edmonton plays in the pro North American Soccer League and regular plays teams in Major League Soccer.

In fact, FC Edmonton was unlucky this season not to beat the Montreal Impact in the annual Canada Amway Cup competition between the Impact, Vancouver Whitecaps and Toronto FC of the MLS and FC Edmonton and Ottawa Fury of the NASL. They are the only five pro soccer teams in Canada.

Many in Canadian soccer are saying that needs to change if Canada is to get back to the World Cup for the first time since 1986. The Highlanders have indicated they are exploring a possible move up to NASL pro soccer. They’ll get a taste of what it takes tonight.

“These players are one step from the MLS and there’s [player movement up and down between the leagues],” said Colin Miller, head coach of FC Edmonton, who was first coach of the Highlanders in 2009.

“On a day, an NASL team could beat an MLS team. We felt we were robbed in our Amway game against Montreal.”

Miller knows the Highlanders (5-3-3) in the PDL will be like-minded in wanting to upset a higher-level team, which in this case are his Eddies (2-2-5 in NASL play).

“It’s the same principle in us coming to play Victoria. I know from coaching the Highlanders how much Alex [Highlanders owner Alex Campbell Jr.] wanted to win,” said Miller, who was interim Canadian national team head coach for nine games last year, including at the 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup.

The Eddies feature three defenders who have represented their nations in international play — Kareem Moses for Trinidad and Tobago, Lance Laing for Jamaica and Albert Watson for Northern Ireland. FC Edmonton midfielder Mike Banner played five seasons on the MLS with Chicago Fire and Massimo Mirabelli for the Canada U-20 team.

Striker Daryl Fordyce, who leads the Eddies in goals this season with five in nine games, is a former member of the Glasgow Rangers FC youth academy. That is certainly an appropriate lead-in for the Highlanders’ much-anticipated friendly July 21 at Centennial Stadium against Rangers FC.

cdheensaw@timescolonist.com