Marsch finalizes – Jesse Marsch has unveiled his 26-player Canada squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with a familiar theme running through the announcement: getting through injuries intact. The team opens Group B in Toronto against Bosnia and Herzegovina on June 12, then faces Q
It’s official now. Jesse Marsch, under bright lights and mounting expectation, has finalized the 26 players who will carry Canada’s hopes into the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The coach unveiled his squad on Friday night, mapping out a campaign that begins June 12 in Toronto against Bosnia and Herzegovina in Group B. Canada then travels to Vancouver for games against Qatar on June 18 and Switzerland on June 25.
Marsch framed the process as a moving target. shaped by the brutal reality of bodies that don’t always cooperate on schedule. “We’ve had a pretty good idea of who our core group is for a while,” Marsch said. “The real X-factor in all these decisions was just trying to determine a month ago. two weeks ago. a week ago. last night. which players are going to be healthy. and who can we project to be really ready to be close to 100 per cent and in the form of their life going into this tournament. So, luckily, we’re on track with a lot of guys.”.
He also admitted the opening match may not come with perfect fitness. “Will everyone be 100 per cent for the Bosnia match? No, that won’t be the case, but we will have a really strong core that will be ready for that match, and we believe we can get stronger as the tournament goes on.”
For Canada, this World Cup is the chance to chase something it hasn’t reached yet: a first World Cup win and a first trip to the knockout round in its third appearance.
The most immediate question, though, isn’t about ambition. It’s about availability—especially in goal and in defense.
In goal, Maxime Crépeau, Owen Goodman and Dayne St. Clair are the options on Marsch’s list. Crépeau is regarded as Canada’s most experienced goalkeeper and played a starring role in Canada’s semifinal run at the 2024 Copa América. St. Clair. meanwhile. is coming off being voted the MLS goalkeeper of the year for 2025 and has had more success at the club level.
Goodman is in the squad too, but he hasn’t yet earned his first cap for Canada.
Marsch hasn’t named a starter. The expectation is that St. Clair and Crépeau will both play at least some part of Canada’s pre-tournament schedule—first in the friendly vs. Uzbekistan on June 1 in Edmonton. and then in Canada’s final World Cup tuneup match against Ireland on June 5 in Montreal. Whoever gets the gloves in the Ireland match will probably be the World Cup starter.
Unless both St. Clair and Crépeau are injured, Goodman is expected to remain on the bench during the World Cup.
The squad also carries an injury-shaped shadow over the back line. Marsch’s selection includes Moïse Bombito (OGC Nice). Derek Cornelius (Olympique de Marseille). Alphonso Davies (Bayern Munich). Luc de Fougerolles (Fulham). Alistair Johnston (Celtic FC). and Alfie Jones (Middlesbrough). along with captain Richie Laryea (Toronto FC) and Niko Sigur (Hajduk Split). Joel Waterman (Chicago Fire) rounds out the defensive group.
But Canada’s biggest concern is durability, and just who will start in the back line when the tournament begins.
In the ideal scenario, Cornelius and Bombito would anchor the centre-back pairing, with Davies and Johnston completing a back four. Yet all four have missed substantial time for both club and country over the past year due to injuries. and Johnston is the only one who has recently returned to action for his pro team.
Davies has had his own fight with fitness. A series of lower-body injuries derailed his 2025-26 season with Bayern Munich, and his previous appearance for Canada was on March 23, 2025. Marsch has previously said he doesn’t expect Davies to be fit for Canada’s opening World Cup contest on June 12.
That could shift the left side of the defense. With Davies potentially unavailable, Laryea—described as the Toronto FC speedster—could start at left fullback in the opener vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina. There is also the possibility of Laryea being used as a wingback if Davies is fit enough to start at left fullback.
Other defensive depth pieces have had their own setbacks. Alfie Jones, Luc de Fougerolles and Richie Laryea have missed time due to injuries in the months leading up to the World Cup. Laryea is the only one among the injured defenders who has played for Canada in 2026.
The hope is that Bombito and Cornelius can be fully fit and renew their solid partnership in the middle of the back line as Canada’s defensive anchors. If one of them is forced out, Marsch may move Johnston from right fullback into the middle, or use either Jones or de Fougerolles.
Waterman sits at the bottom of the depth chart as an MLS centre back. but he could be called upon if needed. Sigur. meanwhile. is viewed as a flexible option who can play on the right side of the defence and also work as a stopper in central midfield. He could see plenty of minutes off the bench at the World Cup.
The roster doesn’t just show who’s in—it also spells out who isn’t. Canada missed the cut for the World Cup with James Pantemis (Portland Timbers). Moïse Bombito’s absent companions from the back line. and a larger group that includes Zorhan Bassong (Sporting Kansas City). Ralph Priso (Vancouver Whitecaps). Jamie Knight-Lebel (Bristol City FC) and Kamal Miller (Portland Timbers) among others.
Canada’s midfield and attack carry their own selection logic, anchored by two names in the centre. The hope is to control matches through the midfield duo of Stephen Eustáquio and Ismaël Koné. Eustáquio was a key member of the 2022 World Cup team. and Koné is coming off what’s described as a great debut season in Italy’s Serie A.
Eustáquio is described as a “classy organizer and creator” who can control the flow with steady possession and offer a set-piece threat with his passing range. Koné is characterized as a two-way midfielder—touch of class on the ball, and energy to cover ground.
On the flanks. Tajon Buchanan and Ali Ahmed are among Canada’s most dynamic attackers. offering quickness on the dribble and technical ability while operating wide. Liam Millar and Jacob Shaffelburg add more danger on the wings. with Marcelo Flores also able to play in the middle. Flores impressed while earning his first two caps for Canada in March.
Experience and versatility show up elsewhere on the list. Jonathan Osorio. Toronto FC captain. is Canada’s most experienced player with 89 caps and will most likely be used off the bench. Nathan Saliba—called a youngster and fellow central midfielder—could also come off the bench, noted for line-breaking dribbling skills.
Mathieu Choinière is included as a depth piece who can play either central midfield or out on the right wing, with a focus on splitting defences with pinpoint through balls.
Up front, the spotlight turns immediately to Jonathan David. Canada’s all-time leading scorer has 39 goals in 75 games. and the 26-year-old will likely start every game for Canada at the World Cup. He’s coming off a difficult debut season with Juventus. where he managed just six goals in Serie A. but the plan remains that David will be the main reference point in attack—whether as a traditional striker or dropping into a false nine role.
The partner question is the one Canada can’t afford to answer too slowly. Cyle Larin ranks second in all-time scoring for the men’s side with 30 goals in 88 games. and he has been in a rich vein of form since joining English club Southampton on loan in February. Yet he doesn’t have a goal in his last 12 appearances for Canada, a run that goes back to Oct. 15, 2024.
Other options include Promise David, described as a strong, physical forward with size who can bully defenders, and Tani Oluwaseyi, noted for speed and getting in behind but not the most clinical finisher.
Promise David had been considered the leading candidate to start next to Jonathan David before suffering a hip injury for Belgian club Union Saint-Gilloise in February. That is the last time he played, and he only recently returned to full training.
So while Marsch’s roster is set, Canada’s real tournament shape will still be decided by health—and how quickly the team can get from “on track” to “ready.”
Canada World Cup 2026 Jesse Marsch Maxime Crépeau Dayne St. Clair Owen Goodman Alphonso Davies Derek Cornelius Moïse Bombito Stephen Eustáquio Ismaël Koné Jonathan David Cyle Larin Tajon Buchanan Richie Laryea