After months and years of speculation and waiting, the Canada MNT revealed the roster for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
On Friday evening, live on TSN, 26 players saw their dreams realized, representing Canada at the World Cup on home soil. The journey starts June 12 against Bosnia and Herzegovina at Toronto Stadium, followed by matches against Qatar on June 18 and Switzerland on June 24 at Vancouver’s BC Place Stadium to complete the group stage.
Unlike 2022, the Canada MNT aren’t just happy to be there. This time, they want to make it out of the group or even win it and then go as far as they can in the knockouts. The Canadians must meet pressure with pressure as they play on the world stage at home.
Let’s go over a few key takeaways from the Canada MNT revealed 2026 World Cup squad.
The squad is more or less as expected.
A player must be one of the best in his country to get selected by his national team for the World Cup. But for the head coach, there are tough decisions that had to be made.
Jesse Marsch has spent months thinking about which players will represent Canada in the tournament.
“It is an honour to name our squad for a World Cup on home soil,” said Marsch in the official press release. “These players reflect the many communities, cultures, and journeys that make up this country. They are determined, fearless, and proud to wear Canada across their chest. We look forward to uniting Canadians this summer, and we invite everyone to be part of this journey with us.”
But some decisions were easier than others. For instance, Dayne St. Clair and Maxime Crépeau are the top two Canadian goalkeepers. But who will start on June 12th against Bosnia?
The midfield also comes as no surprise, as Stephen Eustaquio, Ismael Kone, Nathan Saliba, Mathieu Choinière and Jonathan Osorio are the five natural midfielders named. That goes the same for the wingers in Ali Ahmed, Liam Millar,Marcelo Flores and Tajon Buchanan.
Jonathan David and Alphonso Davies have been the faces of the Canada MNT for years and hope to lead the team to new heights at the World Cup.
While the squad as a whole doesn’t seem surprising, let’s go over the players who didn’t make the cut.
Notable names left out.
Perhaps the only surprise of this Canada MNT side is the inclusion of Chicago Fire centre-back Joel Waterman over Vancouver Whitecaps centre-back/midfielder Ralph Priso.
Waterman wasn’t at his best in the March window against Iceland and Tunisia. Plus, he has been up and down with his form for the Fire.
Prior to his hamstring injury against Tunisia in March, Priso has been a solid player at the back for the Whitecaps. He was a key piece in Vancouver’s run to the MLS Cup final last season and their good start this season. Perhaps Marsch chose Waterman due to familiarity, as Priso’s cap against Tunisia is his only cap for the Canada MNT. Priso being out for a couple of months with his hamstring injury might have jeopardized his World Cup place.
Due to Jacob Shaffelburg’s injuries and the uncertainty surrounding him, Austin FC’s Jayden Nelson was also in contention to be selected. Nelson was part of Canada’s 2025 and 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup squad and has 12 caps for Canada.
Sporting Kansas City’s Zorhan Bassong has filled in as a depth left-back in the past due to injuries to Davies and Sam Adekugbe. (who is also missing the World Cup due to a long-term injury) Laryea can also play as a left-back and has done well in that position.
Other notable omissions include 2022 World Cup squad members Kamal Miller and Junior Hoilett. Strikers Daniel Jebbison and Jacen Russell-Rowe.
Marsch has revealed that Priso, Nelson and Bassong will remain with the Canada MNT squad for the upcoming friendlies against Uzbekistan and the Republic of Ireland. They are acting as cover in case of injuries.
Speaking of…
Injury concerns
Over the past year or so, the Canada MNT couldn’t catch a break. It felt like there was a new injury every day.
Davies is the most notable one as he dealt with an ACL injury and recurring hamstring injuries. Marsch did confirm that the Bayern Munich left-back will play in the World Cup but is likely to miss the opener against Bosnia.
Shaffelburg, Moise Bombito, Alfie Jones, Luc De Fougrolles, Richie Laryea, Ali Ahmed and Promise David have also been dealing with injuries. The fact that they have been called up for the World Cup squad is a good sign they are at or close to being 100%.
Bombito has not played a game of soccer since October 5, 2025. That was when he suffered a left tibia fracture while playing for OGC Nice in a game against Lyon. He is arguably Canada’s best defender, and they need him for the World Cup. The upcoming friendlies are good opportunities to get him back to match fitness.
When Promise David suffered a ruptured hip tendon while playing for Union SG on February 21, it looked like his World Cup was in serious doubt. But against all the odds, he managed to get healthy in time.
With Priso, Bassong and Nelson with the squad for the friendlies, Marsch has reinforcements in case of another injury. It will be interesting to see how he handles the minutes of those coming back from injuries during the friendlies and the World Cup itself.
The battle for the attack
It is safe to say that Bombito and Derek Cornelius will be Canada’s starting centre-backs against Bosnia. Alistair Johnston has the right-back slot locked down. With Davies unlikely to be ready for the game against Bosnia, it is safe to say Laryea holds down the left-back spot.
In the midfield, with Marsch’s preferred 4-2-2-2 formation, Kone and Eustaquio should start together.
Other than the goalkeeping battle, the battle for the attacking starters is also interesting. Up top, who is going to play with Jonathan David? Promise is a candidate as he impressed with the Canada MNT before his injury. However, Cyle Larin looks to be the favourite to start alongside Jonathan on June 12. Larin seemed to have regained his form at Southampton as he had eight goals in 18 Championship games. Tani Oluwaseyi also cannot be forgotten about. Despite just two goals in La Liga with Villarreal this past season, the former Minnesota United striker has had past chemistry with David.
With the 4-2-2-2 formation, Canada either has wingers that play narrowly (as half-space creators) or two number 10s. With the squad selected, Marsch has some tactical flexibility.
One of those players that provides that attacking flexibility is Marcelo Flores. The Georgetown, Ontario native can play as a left winger or number 10. You also have to wonder if Marsch is thinking about using a 4-2-3-1 at some point with Flores as the sole number 10 with David as the sole number 9.
Liam Millar, Ahmed, Buchanan and Shaffelburg are the other wingers. Buchanan more or less seems like a lock for that right side. The left side is where it gets interesting. Millar can play either the left or right, so that is another player who brings flexibility. Shaffelburg and Ahmed both bring pace. Shaffelburg has the explosiveness while Ahmed has the tenacity.
If Marsch chooses to have two 10s behind the strikers, Osorio and Kone can also play there. It will be interesting to see which approach Marsch takes and who starts in the attack for the Canada MNT.
Fun facts
13 players selected to the squad are playing in their first World Cup. They are Crépeau, Owen Goodman, Bombito, Jones, Sigur, de Fougerolles, Ahmed, Choinière, Flores, Saliba, Shaffelburg, Promise David and Oluwaseyi.
There are also 13 returning players from the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. They are Davies, Jonathan David, St. Clair, Cornelius, Waterman, Eustaquio, Kone, Osorio, Laryea, Buchanan, Larin, Millar and Johnston. St. Clair, Waterman and Cornelius did not play a single minute in 2022. It is safe to say that the 2026 World Cup squad is better than the 2022 squad.
In terms of leagues, eight come from MLS, one from Liga MX, four from the EFL Championship, one from EFL League One, three from the Belgian Pro League, two from La Liga, two from Serie A, one from the Bundesliga, one from Ligue 1, one from the Croatian Football League and two from the Scottish Premiership.
LAFC have the most representatives with three. (Eustaquio, Choinière and Shaffelburg) Villarreal (Oluwaseyi and Buchanan) and Toronto FC (Laryea and Osorio) are behind with two representatives each.
The Whitecaps and CF Montreal do not have a representative, but have several alumni on the Canada MNT World Cup squad. Davies, Ahmed, Laryea, Cornelius and Crépeau are the former Whitecaps that will return to Vancouver with Canada for the World Cup. The former CF Montreal players that are on the squad are Saliba, Kone, Choinière, Johnston, Waterman and Crépeau.
In terms of demographics, 14 players grew up in Ontario, five in Quebec, three in BC, one in Alberta and one in Nova Scotia. Two grew up in the UK. De Fougerolles grew up in London, while Jones grew up in Bristol.
Now that the roster is set, it is time to get to work.
