THE Azteca Stadium in Mexico is one of the most iconic stadiums in football. The third largest stadium in the world, with a capacity of 95,500, it was the first ground to have hosted two World Cup finals and was the venue for Diego Maradona’s ‘Hand of God’ goal against England in the 1986 World Cup.

So for a proud Scot to be potentially making one of his first international appearances there is ‘unbelievable’, as Scott Arfield describes it.

That his international debut won’t be coming for Scotland, the country of his birth, is something he has accepted, and the Clarets midfielder can’t wait to get started with Canada in March, providing his passport application goes through smoothly.

Arfield qualifies for the Canucks, as Canada’s national team is known, through dad Harry, who was born in Toronto while his dad was serving in the Army there.

The former Scotland Under-21 international might have been born in Livingston, but he is proud of his family’s Canadian roots, and having accepted a Tartan Army call is not going to come, he has made the decision to switch allegiance, and the paperwork should be processed in time for the World Cup qualifying double-header with Mexico at the end of March.

Arfield has been consistently overlooked for Gordon Strachan’s Scotland squads, despite playing regularly in the Premier League last season and impressing in two Championship campaigns with Burnley.

But it is not something he is dwelling on, instead choosing to focus on the chance of a lifetime with Canada, who count former Burnley defender David Edgar amongst their number.

“I wouldn’t say Scotland broke my heart,” said Arfield. “When I first came to England I was always dying to go back up to play for Scotland, it was the only time I wanted to go back, I didn’t want to go back to Scottish football, I wanted to go there and play for Scotland.

“I’ve spoken to the manager of Canada and the manager of Scotland and reiterated my feelings and my decision. I think it’s the best one for me and my family.

“(Strachan) gave me a call and he wished me all the best. He never tried to change my mind.

“He wanted to touch base since the paperwork came through to Scotland. I told him my decision and it’s one I’m glad I took.”

Arfield said his dad was “buzzing” about his decision to represent Canada, coached by Spaniard Benito Floro, and that he was hoping to watch Arfield in action, with Canada at home to Mexico on March 26 in Vancouver, before the return at the Azteca four days later.

“My dad moved quite early so he never had that much connection, but he feels he was born there, there his roots, and I’m delighted to contribute to that,” said Arfield, who has six goals for the Clarets this season.

He says playing for Canada will offer him far more than an experience in international football, and he can’t wait for his first trip to the land of the Maple Leaf.

“It’s something I’m dying to do,” he said. “It’s one I was going to do in the summer but things changed, then we were going to do it soon but my partner is pregnant now so she can’t fly.

“We’re definitely going to go over and see Canada to its full extent, but it’s on hold for now. They play home games in Vancouver. I’ve been told it’s beautiful.

“It’s not just football. That opens doors but it’s a life experience as well, to jump on a plane and see things you wouldn’t have seen and meet people you wouldn’t have met.”