Canada will be without midfielders Jonathan Osorio and Jacob Shaffelburg for their CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinal against Guatemala after both picked up injuries in the final week of the Major League Soccer season. The Canadian Soccer Association confirmed the roster changes on Monday, adding defender Zorhan Bassong and forwards Charles-Andreas Brym and Theo Corbeanu as replacements.
Osorio played 89 minutes for Toronto FC in a 4-1 loss at Philadelphia on Saturday, having previously missed time this MLS season with a knee issue. Shaffelburg was forced off in the 79th minute of Los Angeles FC's 2-1 defeat to Seattle after a heavy tackle. The loss of the pair is a significant blow ahead of the two-legged tie, which opens in Guatemala on Saturday, November 14.
Osorio is a veteran of 92 caps with 10 international goals, while Shaffelburg has eight goals in 39 appearances. Shaffelburg was in fine form during Canada's recent friendlies, scoring both goals in a 2-0 win over Peru on October 3. His absence removes a key attacking threat from a squad already dealing with multiple injuries. Stephen Eustáquio, Cyle Larin, Derek Cornelius, Alfie Jones and Alistair Johnston were all unavailable before Monday's announcement.
The call-ups bring fresh options. Corbeanu, who plays for Toronto FC, has two goals in seven senior appearances since his 2021 debut. Bassong of Sporting Kansas City has eight caps, and Brym of NAC Breda has one goal in 13 games. Their inclusion provides depth as Canada looks to secure a spot in the 2027 CONCACAF Nations League Finals and automatic qualification for the Gold Cup.
There is positive news regarding Alphonso Davies, who is expected to be available for the series. The Bayern Munich star missed Canada's three September and October friendlies for his honeymoon and played limited minutes at the World Cup while recovering from a hamstring injury. His return is a major boost for the attack.
Canada heads into the match ranked 27th in the world, facing the 95th-ranked Guatemalans. The team's recent form shows two wins and a loss from their last three outings, most recently a 1-0 defeat to the USA on October 7. They beat Guatemala 1-0 in their last meeting in January. The return leg will be at BMO Field in Toronto on November 16, where former midfielder Julian de Guzman will be honoured at halftime for his Hall of Fame induction. The team's next fixture after this quarterfinal is a friendly against the 12th-ranked United States on March 24, 2025.
This story first appeared at Sportsnet Soccer
