The Canadian men's national team returns to action this weekend, hosting Chile at Toronto's BMO Field in the first of three September friendlies. Coach Jesse Marsch has named a 26-man squad for matches against Chile, Peru, and the United States, aiming to build on the momentum from a historic World Cup run.
Seventeen players from the World Cup roster are back, but Marsch is also introducing fresh talent. Goalkeepers Owen Goodman and James Pantemis, along with 18-year-old defender Richard Chukwu, are in line for potential debuts. Vancouver Whitecaps midfielder Jeevan Badwal was also called up but withdrew due to an undisclosed injury. Marsch stressed this period is a continuation, not a restart. "The idea for me is not to say that the World Cup is over and now we're starting a whole new cycle." the coach said when announcing the squad.
Injuries have hit the centre-back position hard. Veteran Derek Cornelius suffered a non-contact lower body injury in training and is expected to be out, while Moïse Bombito is recovering from surgery. This opens the door for 20-year-old Luc de Fougerolles to take a leading role. The Fulham loanee, who started all three World Cup group games, has earned high praise from teammates. "For me, he was probably our best player at the World Cup," said fullback Richie Laryea. Forward Jonathan David added, "Having him on the back line, everybody's going to be at peace."
Canada's all-time top scorers are in fine club form. Cyle Larin has seven goals in eight Championship games for Southampton. Jonathan David, now on loan at Atlético Madrid, has three goals in four appearances, including a winner against Real Madrid. Larin spoke about maintaining high standards. "The more you do well, the expectation gets higher." he said. Their partnership remains central to Marsch's attacking plans.
Saturday's match will be a farewell for veteran winger Junior Hoilett, who will retire from international duty after the game in his hometown. The 36-year-old, with 17 goals in 69 caps, will be honoured in a post-game ceremony. Reflecting on his career, Hoilett highlighted the program's growth. "We were struggling to sell out seats... Now we're selling out stadiums. It shows how far the country has come," he said. The team's upcoming schedule, including the October friendlies, is available on our fixtures page, while the full squad can be viewed on our squad list. Canada faces Peru in Montreal on October 3.
