Predicting the Canada MNT 2026 World Cup Roster

As this article is being written, there are 60 days to go until Canada MNT kick off their 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign against Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The Canadians are in their third World Cup ever. This one is extra special because they are at home. The first game against Bosnia and Herzegovina will be held in Toronto. The following two games against Qatar and Switzerland will be held in Vancouver. They could also potentially play in the Round of 32 and Round of 16 games in Vancouver.

The Canada MNT still have lots to work on. That includes Jesse Marsch and his staff deciding the 26-man roster. Rosters must be submitted to FIFA by May 30, 2026.

With two months to go until the World Cup, let’s predict Canada MNT 26-man roster under Marsch’s 4-4-2 formation.

The Canadians have been plagued by injuries over the past few months. Union SG striker Promise David (ruptured hip tendon) and Vancouver Whitecaps defender Ralph Priso (left hamstring strain) are unlikely to be ready by June, so they are not included in our roster prediction. It is a shame because they definitely would’ve been on our roster projection and more than likely on the actual squad.

Our 26-man roster is based on talent, needs and recent form.

Goalkeepers: Who is the number 1?

For over a year or so, the question has been: Who will start for Canada in between the sticks for the World Cup? It has been an intense battle between Dayne St. Clair of Inter Miami and Maxime Crépeau of Orlando City SC.

St. Clair was named the 2025 MLS Goalkeeper of the Year and signed for the reigning MLS Cup champions as a free agent. With Inter Miami, St. Clair has conceded 12 goals and has a 47.8% save percentage, the second lowest among MLS starting keepers so far this season. Of course, Inter Miami, despite being lethal in attack, has had problems defensively and not every goal conceded has been St. Clair’s fault. St. Clair has given up six goals in his last three games with Inter Miami.

It has been a rough year or so at the club level for Crépeau. He lost his starting spot with the Portland Timbers to fellow Canadian James Pantemis. Unfortunately, things have not been going well for him since signing for Orlando in the offseason. They currently sit 13th in the MLS Eastern Conference and have conceded a league-leading 24 goals in seven games. Both Crépeau and Orlando’s defence have had rough moments all season.

It is tough to to pick a starter. Marsch has to think long and hard about this. Crépeau is more proven with the Canada MNT, especially during the 2024 Copa América. However, based on recent form, St. Clair is our starter for the World Cup.

As for the third string we’ll go with Owen Goodman. The 22-year-old plays for Barnsley in League One and is on loan from Crystal Palace.

The Goalkeepers:

Dayne St. Clair- Inter Miami CF-Age 28.

Maxime Crépeau-Orlando City SC-Age 31.

Owen Goodman- Barnsley (on loan from Crystal Palace)- Age 22.

Defenders: Alphonso Davies and Moise Bombito being healthy is Key

We’ll start with the fullbacks.

Alphonso Davies is the face of the Canada MNT. He has been dealing with injuries over the past year, but when he is healthy, he is among the best left-backs in the world. The Bayern Munich star has been recovering from a hamstring strain, but has come off the bench in their last two games. Davies did assist Lennart Karl’s stoppage time winner against Freisburg on April 4, just after coming off the bench. A healthy Davies with his speed and agility is key for Canada MNT and if he is, expect him to play just about every minute.

Toronto FC’s Richie Laryea is a natural right-back. However, he has excelled as a left-back over the past couple of international windows. The thing about Laryea is that he is good enough to start for Canada. But with Davies and Alistair Johnston hopefully being healthy for the World Cup, Laryea would be a great option off the bench. Canada MNT needs him because he is a versatile player and good at both ends of the pitch and is a master of the dark arts.

Johnston also has had a rough year of injuries and has hardly played for Celtic. However, if Johnston is healthy for the World Cup, he is an easy lock for the starting right-back spot with his tactical intelligence and work rate. But let’s not forget about Niko Sigur. The Burnaby BC native has done well for Croatian side Hajduk Split and could be on his way to a bigger club after the World Cup. Sigur can also play as a defensive midfielder so that is a bonus.

As for the centre-backs, the Canada MNT need Moise Bombito and Derek Cornelius healthy. If they are, they are easily Canada’s best CBs. Bombito has not played since October due to a broken left tibia injury. The OGC Nice CB is fast and physical when healthy, which are things Canada’s backline needs. Cornelius has been on loan with Scottish giants Rangers from Olympique Marseille. But he suffered a muscle injury that required surgery in Canada’s friendly against Venezuela in November and hasn’t played since. Fortunately, Cornelius is back in training with Rangers. Cornelius’ veteran presence and set piece abilities are needed for Canada.

Now the hard part for the CBs is who are the next three. Luc De Fougerolles is just 20 years old and is with Belgian side Dender on loan from Fulham. While he has made mistakes, this is a player that is still growing and the World Cup is a great opportunity for him. Plus, LDF can also play LB.

Alfie Jones is helping Middlesbrough try to get promoted to the English Premier League. Well, that was until he suffered an ankle injury on Boxing Day that required surgery. Fortunately, he is projected to be back in time for the World Cup. Jones switched alliegances from England to Canada last November and did well in the 90 minutes against Venezuela. He could be a solid depth piece.

Finally, there is Joel Waterman. The Chicago Fire defender would provide veteran presence and leadership on the Canada MNT.

The Defenders

Alphonso Davies-Bayern Munich-Age 25

Richie Laryea- Toronto FC- Age 31

Alistair Johnston-Celtic-Age 27

Niko Sigur-Hajduk Split-Age 22

Moise Bombito-OGC Nice-Age 26

Derek Cornelius-Rangers (On Loan from Olympique Marseille)-Age 28

Luc de Fougerolles-Dender (On Loan from Fulham)-Age 20

Alfie Jones-Middlesbrough-Age 28

Joel Waterman-Chicago Fire-Age 30

Midfielders: Stephen Eustaquio Leads The Way

While Davies and Jonathan David are the best players for the Canada MNT, Stephen Eustaquio is probably the most important.

Eustaquio’s creativity and defensive play make him the engine of the team. After not getting minutes at Porto, Eustaquio has been doing well on loan at LAFC. He’s still recovering from a blood clot, but should be able to go for the World Cup.

Ismael Koné has regained his form since leaving Marseille for Serie A side Sassuolo. (He also had a notorious falling out with former Marseille head coach Roberto De Zerbi.) He has been scoring goals and showing off his creativity. Both he and Eustaquio are likely going to be holding the fort down together in the midfield during the World Cup.

Mathieu Choinière has also been enjoying life at LAFC. He signed there on loan from Grasshoppers Club Zurich in the summer and then permanently in December. Choinière is third or fourth on the depth chart for Canada, but his high soccer IQ, passing and tackling is valuable for the team.

Like Koné, Nathan Saliba is a big part of the future of the Canada MNT. Saliba has been a consistent starter for Anderlecht in the Belgian Pro League. With Canada, Saliba has also impressed since he got his first call-up.

Jonathan Osorio has been capped for the Canada MNT since 2013. The Toronto FC captain is on our roster mainly for veteran leadership and depth. He won’t be getting a ton of minutes at the World Cup, but since he has been a consistent starter in MLS, he is a nice depth option to have.

The Midfielders:

Stephen Eustaquio-LAFC (on loan from FC Porto)-Age 29

Ismael Koné-Sassuolo-Age 23

Mathieu Choinière-LAFC-Age 27

Nathan Saliba-Anderlecht-Age 22

Jonathan Osorio-Toronto FC-Age 33

Wingers: Intriguing Options for Canada MNT

Perhaps no Canadian player’s stock has risen over the past year than Ali Ahmed. After helping the Whitecaps reach MLS Cup last season, he took his talents to England and signed for Norwich City in January. Ahmed has helped the Canaries get out of the relegation zone and they currently sit ninth in the Championship. Ahmed has impressed for the Canada MNT as well. As it stands, that left wing spot is his to lose. But that doesn’t mean there is competition.

Marcelo Flores made the one-time switch from Mexico to Canada in February and impressed in the March friendlies with his dribbling, tenacity and passing. As the Canada MNT can’t catch a break with the injury bug, Flores has suffered a myofascial tear in his left leg and the timeline of his return is still unknown at the time of this writing. However, depending on the grade (1a, 2a or 3a), recovery could be anywhere from 7-14 days to 3-6 weeks or more.

Jacob Shaffelburg has had a rough year for club and country. His form dropped and he got traded from Nashville SC to LAFC in the MLS offseason. However, a degenerative groin issue made him miss the first few weeks of the MLS season, but has since come off the bench in LAFC’s last three matches. Shaffelburg is still trying to find his form and stay fit with LAFC, but his speed could be valuable off the bench for Canada.

Liam Millar did not play a single game for 11 months due to an ACL injury. But he made his return on October 21, 2025, nearly a year after the injury. Since then, he has played 29 games for Hull City and scored two goals and tallied three assists as the Tigers are trying to get to the Premier League for the first time since the 2016-17 season. Millar’s ability to play both wings, pace and dribbling make him a Swiss Army knife for Canada who is hard to leave out.

On the right wing, Tajon Buchanan should have that spot locked up. Buchanan has started 18 out of 29 games for Villarreal as they currently sit third in La Liga, behind Real Madrid and Barcelona. The Brampton native has scored some crucial goals for the Yellow Submarine and for both his club and country, is dangerous down the right wing with his dribbling pace.

The Wingers:

LW: Ali Ahmed-Norwich City-Age 25

LW:Marcelo Flores-Tigres UANL-Age 22

LW:Jacob Shaffelburg-LAFC-Age 26

RW: Tajon Buchanan-Villarreal-Age 27

RW/LW: Liam Millar-Hull City-Age 26

Strikers: Who will play alongside Jonathan David?

Jonathan David is obviously Canada’s number one striker. However, his form with Juventus has been concerning. After scoring 16 goals with Lille in Ligue 1 last season, he has scored just five in 16 Serie A games this season. That is a goals per 90 rate from 0.56 last season to 0.30 this season. David is the Canada MNT all time leading scorer, but the team struggles when he isn’t in good form.

Canada’s attack has been concerning as they have just scored one open play goal in their last seven matches. That is not good enough heading into the World Cup. One thing that would help is have David and his striker partner both firing at the same time. But who should it be?

The first name that comes to mind is Tani Oluwaseyi. But he too, has struggled at the club level. Since leaving Minnesota United for Villarreal, Oluwaseyi has scored just two goals in 24 La Liga matches. That is concerning, but at the same time, he has just started only six of those 24 matches. However, Oluwaseyi has scored two out of Villarreal’s UEFA Champions League goals this season. The 25 year old does fit Marsch’s pressing system well. Pressing is something he does well and he knows how to create chances for his teammates and find spaces for them.

But based on current form, we’re going with Cyle Larin. Larin has done well since joining Southampton on loan. In 11 games with the Saints, he has scored four goals and tallied one assist. He is trying to help Southampton return to the Premier League. Hopefully the form continues and he takes it to the Canada MNT team as well.

Daniel Jebbison isn’t a bad option for the fourth-striker role. He has done decently in the latest friendlies and has been fine on loan at Preston North End on loan from Bournemouth.

The Strikers

Jonathan David-Juventus-Age 26

Cyle Larin-Southampton (on loan from Mallorca)-Age 30

Tani Oluwaseyi-Villarreal-Age 25

Daniel Jebbison-Preston North End (on loan from Bournemouth)-Age 22

Predicted Canada MNT Starting XI for First World Cup Game

The Full Predicted Canada MNT 2026 FIFA World Cup Roster