Canada revealed its World Cup roster Friday, putting to rest concerns that injured captain Alphonso Davies wouldn’t recover in time to compete in the tournament.
The 26-player lineup announcement, broadcast on television, held few unexpected selections.
Davies from Bayern Munich made the cut as anticipated, along with other key players including Juventus forward Jonathan David.
“We really think this is our strongest group,” said coach Jesse Marsch. While injuries have affected the Canadian team, several players who are healing from ailments earned spots on the roster.
Most discussion surrounding the announcement centered on Davies, who hurt his hamstring during the Champions League semi-final match against Paris St Germain.
Marsch indicated Davies would meet up with his teammates in Edmonton on May 31, giving him additional recovery time. The rest of the squad completed training this week in Charlotte, North Carolina. Davies worked out on his own during the week, according to Marsch.
The coach has wrestled with selecting his starting goalkeeper, admitting he feels “tormented” choosing between Orlando City’s Maxime Crepeau and Inter Miami’s Dayne St. Clair. His decision isn’t expected for several days.
The competing goalkeepers, who are friends, made light of the pressure surrounding the selection battle.
“We’re gonna play rocks-paper-scissors,” St. Clair joked about determining the starter during the TSN television broadcast.
Davies stands out among soccer players who remain largely unknown to most Canadians, who typically prefer ice hockey, American-style football, basketball and baseball. The Bundesliga defender has gained recognition among millions, drawing crowds of supporters at the 2022 World Cup.
David has also built a significant fan base in Canada, especially among the country’s millions of residents with Italian and Haitian heritage.
One notable 2022 player missing from this squad is Junior Hoilett. The veteran team member has declined in performance during his 36th year, and Marsch is recognized for prioritizing pace.
Marsch, who is American, brings extensive coaching experience, having led Germany’s RB Leipzig in 2021 and England’s Leeds United in 2022-23, while also earning multiple achievements in MLS as both coach and player.
The coach expressed frustration that injuries dominated questions about Canada’s chances, insisting the roster represents the country’s finest ever assembled.
“Guys are getting healthy,” he stated.
Soccer has gained significant popularity as a spectator sport in Canada recently, with English and Spanish leagues attracting widespread viewership, a domestic league launching, and Major League Soccer enjoying strong fan engagement.
Canada squad:
Goalkeepers: Maxime Crepeau from Orlando City SC, Owen Goodman from Barnsley FC (on loan from Crystal Palace FC), and Dayne St. Clair from Inter Miami FC.
Defenders: Moise Bombito from OGC Nice, Derek Cornelius from Olympique de Marseille, Alphonso Davies from Bayern Munich, Luc de Fougerolles from Fulham FC, Alistair Johnston from Celtic FC, Alfie Jones from Middlesbrough FC, Richie Laryea from Toronto FC, Niko Sigur from Hajduk Split and Joel Waterman from Chicago Fire FC.
Midfielders: Ali Ahmed from Norwich City FC, Tajon Buchanan from Villarreal CF, Mathieu Choiniere from LAFC, Stephen Eustaquio from FC Porto, Marcelo Flores from Tigres UANL, Ismael Kone from U.S. Sassuolo Calcio, Liam Millar from Hull City FC, Jonathan Osorio from Toronto FC, Nathan Saliba from R.S.C. Anderlecht and Jacob Shaffelburg from LAFC.
Forwards: Jonathan David from Juventus FC, Promise David from Royale Union Saint-Gilloise, Cyle Larin from RCD Mallorca, and Tani Oluwaseyi from Villarreal CF.
