Zorhan Bassong has been called up to the Canada men's national team for the upcoming Concacaf Nations League quarter-finals. The Sporting Kansas City midfielder was added to the squad on Monday ahead of the two-legged tie against Guatemala.
Canada Soccer confirmed the roster change, which provides important depth following injuries to Jacob Shaffelburg and Jonathan Osorio. Bassong, a 27-year-old who can play left-back or central midfield, has won eight senior caps since his debut in 2020. His most recent appearance was in a 1-1 friendly draw against Ireland this past June.
Bassong offers versatility and experience, having made 70 appearances for Sporting Kansas City across three seasons, contributing one goal and five assists. Born in Toronto and raised in Montreal, his addition is seen as cover at left-back, a position that allows Alphonso Davies to return to his preferred role on the wing. Head coach Jesse Marsch emphasized the importance of the upcoming window.
"This is an important window for us," Marsch said. "There's a Nations League Finals place and a Gold Cup spot on the line, and we know how tough it will be to go to Guatemala City and get a result. We want to take care of business there, then come home to BMO Field and finish the job in front of our fans."
The first leg is scheduled for Friday, November 13 at 8 p.m. CT at Estadio Manuel Felipe Carrera in Guatemala City. The return leg will be played at BMO Field in Toronto on Monday, November 16 at 7 p.m. CT. The winner of the aggregate series advances to the Nations League Finals in Los Angeles in March 2027 and automatically qualifies for the 2027 Concacaf Gold Cup. The loser will enter the Gold Cup preliminary round.
Canada's recent form shows two wins and one loss from their last three matches, including a 1-0 defeat to the USA on October 7. They beat Peru 2-0 and Chile 1-0 in the preceding fixtures. The team last faced Guatemala in January, securing a 1-0 victory. The squad will look to build on that positive record when they travel for the first leg on November 14.
This story first appeared at Sporting Kansas City
