Canada MNT’s 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign begins in six months. At the time of this writing, there are 150 days to go until Canada plays the first game of the World Cup at Toronto’s BMO Field against the UEFA Playoff winner.
As co-hosts, the Canadians are eager to deliver an impressive performance. With players like Alphonso Davies, Jonathan David, Stephen Eustaquio, Richie Laryea, Ali Ahmed, and Tajon Buchanan, there is optimism that they can inspire the next generation of soccer fans in Canada. Some starters have already made big moves.
While these players are expected to make the 26-man roster, attention also turns to those competing for the final spots.
The Canada MNT is currently hosting its annual “Camp Poutine” in Los Angeles, which features players on the fringes and those who have not yet been capped. The squad for Camp Poutine primarily consists of players from the MLS and CPL. There will also be a friendly against Guatemala on January 17.
Let’s take a look at five players who are on the fringes of the Canada MNT squad and are fighting for a place to go to the World Cup.
#1: Jayden Nelson: Winger, Austin FC
Nelson was traded in December from the MLS Cup finalists, Vancouver Whitecaps, to Austin FC.
The Brampton native played 1326 minutes in MLS with the Whitecaps last season and scored two goals and tallied six assists. He exploded on the scene with a debut to remember: One goal and three assists on opening day in Portland.
Nelson also earned call-ups for the Canada MNT for the CONCACAF Nations League, CONCACAF Gold Cup, and several international friendlies. He played seven games for Canada in 2025 and has made 12 caps and scored two goals for his country throughout his career.
Nelson’s speed and agility are his strengths. He knows how to create several scoring chances, but consistency in creating goals has been a problem. The 23-year-old has been used sporadically by head coach Jesse Marsch, mainly coming off the bench.
Nelson needed more minutes, which is why he was traded from Vancouver to Austin. The winger spots have stiff competition with Buchanan, Ahmed, Jacob Shaffelburg, and Liam Millar. However, if Nelson impresses at Camp Poutine and with more minutes in Austin, he could be brought along to the World Cup. If he does make the World Cup squad, Nelson could be a great option off the bench.
#2: Jacen Russell-Rowe: Forward, Columbus Crew
Russell-Rowe is another player from Ontario and a former Toronto FC academy player.
Russell-Rowe has not been called up to the Canada MNT since the September 2024 friendly window. His last match with Canada was when he came off the bench for six minutes in a 0-0 draw against Mexico.
The 23-year-old had a decent year with the Columbus Crew. In 31 MLS regular season games, Russell-Rowe scored seven goals and tallied one assist. He even scored two goals and tallied one assist in the Crew’s three-game first-round series loss to FC Cincinnati.
Russell-Rowe is a good technical player with composed finishing, speed, and agility. The Canada MNT forward competition is also stiff with Jonathan David, Promise David, Tani Oluwaseyi, and Cyle Larin leading the pecking order.
However, Russell-Rowe is a sleeper pick. His technical ability and finishing could provide some good scoring depth for Canada. He’ll need a good Camp Poutine and start to the season with Columbus to be considered for the World Cup.
#3: Ralph Priso: Centre-Back/Defensive Midfielder, Vancouver Whitecaps
Another Toronto FC academy product, Priso, is a natural defensive midfielder. But due to numerous injuries to Whitecaps centre-backs, Priso was slotted into that role, and he excelled.
Priso did not look out of place as a centre-back. He was making goal-saving tackles, big clearances, and blocks.
It seems the plan for 2026 is to keep Priso as a centre-back. Why not? He’s done well there, so why change anything?
Priso is a dark horse candidate for Canada’s World Cup squad. At the back, a healthy Moise Bombito and Derek Cornelius are pretty much guaranteed to be the starters. Then there are the likes of Alfie Jones, Joel Waterman, and Luc De Fougerolles.
However, Priso can challenge Waterman for a depth spot in the Canada MNT centre-back World Cup death chart. Priso’s aggressiveness, instincts, and distribution from the back could make Marsch think twice about his centre-backs. It will be interesting to see how Priso does as a centre-back with the Whitecaps in 2026.
#4: Kamal Miller: Centre-back, Portland Timbers
Miller is another centre-back challenging for a spot.
However, he is one of the veterans as he was part of Canada MNT’s 2022 World Cup squad in Qatar. It wasn’t long ago that he was a regular starter. However, Bombito and Cornelius surpassed him in the depth chart.
Miller was a part of the 2024 Copa America Canada MNT squad and was called up three times in 2025. But he only played in the November 14 friendly against Ecuador.
The 28-year-old is great at playing with the ball out from the back and can even play as a left-back. Miller played 28 games with the Portland Timbers last season and scored two goals. That included this screamer from 30 yards against Vancouver.
Miller could also challenge Waterman and Alfie Jones for a spot at the World Cup. Should he make it, he would provide a big veteran presence.
#5: Marcelo Flores: Attacking Midfielder/Winger: Tigres UANL
Flores isn’t a Canada MNT player…well, at least not yet.
Flores was born and raised in Georgetown, Ontario. His mother is a Canadian woman of English descent, and his father is Mexican. (His father is former Mexican Ruben Flores and was most recently the head coach of the Cayman Islands women’s national team.) Flores is eligible to play for Mexico, Canada, and England. The 22-year-old has played for Mexico at the youth level and already has three caps with the senior team, and was last called up in 2022. But since he only played in friendlies, he is eligible to switch to either Canada or England.
Flores came through the Guelph SC and Ipswich Town youth set-ups before signing with Arsenal’s academy in 2020. Flores was even included in The Guardian’s “Next Generation: 2020” piece, showcasing the world’s best young talents.
It seems he has caught the eye of Marsch. Flores is apparently good at controlling the ball, dribbling, and making progressive passes. However, it seems he is inconsistent defensively and lacks physicality. He’s even been compared to Hirving “Chucky” Lozano in the past.
According to FootballReference, Flores is in the 96th percentile in pass completion and in the 97th percentile in progressive passes received. He was also in the 84th percentile in interceptions and 85th percentile in blocks.
He’s been called up to the Camp Poutine squad and could feature in the friendly against Guatemala. Flores even scored two goals in his last game with Tigres UANL.
With Flores being called up to Camp Poutine, Tigres manager Guido Pizarro looked to have spilled the beans as he hinted that Flores might be looking to switch to Canada.
Marsch is also hopeful that he can convince the Canadian-born attacking midfielder to switch to his birth country.
Flores would be a very appealing addition should he switch to Canada and make the World Cup squad. He can also play as a left winger, creating competition for Millar, Shaffelburg, Nelson, and Ahmed. That is very stiff competition.
In Marsch’s 4-4-2 formation, Flores would most likely play on the wing. Given how Canada likes to press under Marsch, Flores’s work rate and creativity would be a big asset.
Still, Flores would need to impress at Camp Poutine and the friendly against Guatemala. He also needs to show improvements and strides as Tigres and in upcoming friendlies, should he make the switch.
Marsch has convinced dual nationals to switch to the Canada MNT before (Niko Sigur, Jones, and Daniel Jebbison come to mind), and having Flores in the squad would give them new life in attack.
