It matters not what the age level is.

Any national soccer team from Argentina is going to produce world-class athletes.

When Argentina's under-20 men's team plays a friendly against Canada on Sunday at BMO Field in Toronto, two Londoners will get a first-hand look at how good that team is.

Jovan Ivanovich and Michael Pereira will be wearing the red and white for Canada on the field.

They are in Toronto for a week-long camp before the game. Neither knows whether he will start but simply being named is recognition of how far they have come in the development of their skills.

Argentina won last summer's under-20 FIFA World Cup in Canada.

Pereira and Ivanovich will play this summer with London AEK in the Western Ontario Soccer League. Ivanovich will come home after Sunday's game and also play for Lucas secondary school. He will play NCAA Division 1 at Gardner-Webb University next year on a full-ride scholarship.

Pereira has finished his first year on scholarship at Providence.

London has often been overlooked when it comes to selection for national teams, especially on the male side. The selection of two players may signal a change: develop them and they will come.

Pereira is no stranger to national teams. He's represented Canada at the under-16 and under-17 level. He's also spent a year in Portugal in the Porto FC system.

"This has been awesome," Pereira said from Toronto, where he's rooming with Ivanovich. "It's good to see some old faces again. I'm pretty familiar with most of the guys because I've played with a lot of them. It's good to see all the improvements we've made. There's a lot of quality here, a lot of quality."

Pereira is a midfielder, Ivanovich a centreback. Playing against teams such as Argentina is what's needed to develop young players in Canada.

"It's going to be a great experience," Pereira said. "You always want to challenge yourself. You want to put yourself in position where it forces you to put yourself out of your comfort zone.

"Obviously, this is a great challenge. You grow up watching teams teams like Argentina on television and to be able to go out and play against them on your home field, that's just phenomenal."

Martin Painter has coached both players through their development years. He believes both have great potential and that even though Pereira is the more experienced, Ivanovich was good enough to play for national teams before now.

"He's big, strong, quick, a very good central defender," Painter said. "They are looking to get new blood into the system.

As for Pereira . . .

"His strength is he has no weaknesses," Painter said.

The starting team will be selected on the basis of this week's camp and an exhibition game today against the MLS Toronto FC reserve side.

"I'm a little nervous," Ivanovich said. "Mike's not as much, because he's used to it.

"I was really surprised when I was asked to come. The talent is here. I just expect to play my best, try my best and try not to be too nervous."

Ivanovich has been a part of a lot of good teams, including a London Dynamite that won Ontario and national honours.

"This is a big confidence boost for me," he said.

Pereira is more experienced when it comes to national competitions. But he too is looking to take that next step.

"I've lived in Europe, played with the national team, played back home, come out to these games, it's awesome," he said. "Now at school, I'm getting an education while I'm playing. It's an adjustment balancing school with soccer but I'm learning. It's a great experience. But obviously, I'm not satisfied. I just want to keep working to be better and see where it leads me."

While both expect to play for AEK this summer, their schedule has to be flexible. There will be several other under-20 camps and games.

The game Sunday will be an anniversary celebration of sorts. Last May 11, Canada lost 2-1 to Argentina in the official opening of BMO Field. Two months later on July 22 in the under-20 World Cup, Argentina won its sixth world title at BMO Field.

The under-20 team is preparing for the next World Cup in Egypt in 2009.