Canada has named their 26-man squad for their first World Cup as a co-host nation. And head coach Jesse Marsch is betting big that a number of key players still carrying injuries recover in time to be effective during Canada’s group stage matches.
Marsch has brought a healthy mix of veteran, experienced players and young up-and-comers who will look to solidify themselves on the world stage next month. In total, 13 players who were the backbone of Canada’s 2022 World Cup side have made this squad.
“These players reflect the many communities, cultures, and journeys that make up this country,” Marsch said. “They are determined, fearless, and proud to wear Canada across their chest. We look forward to uniting Canadians this summer, and we invite everyone to be part of this journey with us.”
Throughout the likeable and dynamic squad, injuries continued to be a pressing storyline during their pre-World Cup training camp. Multiple likely Canada starters, such as Alphonso Davies and Moise Bombito, continue to have question marks surrounding their readiness for the entire tournament.
Alphonso Davies is racing to be fit for Canada (Michael Owens/Getty Images)
However Marsch will still rely on a number of fully fit players in strong form for their respective club sides: Cyle Larin, Ismael Kone and Jonathan David are all in Canada’s squad and promise to be starters throughout the tournament.
Canada will be looking to earn their first World Cup win in their third appearance and qualify for the knockout round for the first time.
Are there any surprise omissions?
The most prominent surprise is a player who did not even receive an invite to training camp: soon-to-be 36-year-old attacker Junior Hoilett. Hoilett is known in Canadian camp as “OG” because of his longstanding stature within the team.
At his best, Hoilett’s high-end soccer IQ can help pick apart opposition defences. However the Swindon winger’s age and declining speed were likely a factor in him not being invited to training camp in the first place, despite the fact that he is seen as the prominent veteran voice on the team.
Daniel Jebbison earned plenty of playing time during the second half of his club season with Preston North End. However his form and consistency wasn’t always there for Canada. Despite his country often being a team that struggles to score, they have opted to bring only four forwards – and Jebbison missed the cut.
So too did Jacen Russell-Rowe, who has quietly put together a strong season with Toulouse in France’s Ligue 1 since a February move from MLS. The fact that Russell-Rowe was consistently playing in a top European league probably would have been enough to land him in Canada’s World Cup squad. That is, of course, had Promise David – who plays for Belgian Pro League club Union SG – not recovered from hip surgery as quickly as he did.
Are there any surprise inclusions?
If you had said even two months ago that both Middlesbrough’s Alfie Jones and Promise David — who have not played since December 2025 and February 2026 respectively after each suffering injuries that required surgery — would be on the roster, many would have been surprised. Yet both have spent extra time through their recovery with Canada’s medical team to ensure they are being trained and are recovering in ways that benefit Marsch’s preferred style of play.
Alfie Jones of Middlesbrough is one of several players recovering from injury (George Wood/Getty Images)
Both are vital to the team and even though neither are likely back to full fitness, Marsch simply had to find a place for both players. Jones will feature as a possible starting centre-back later in the group stage and David as a high-impact late-game substitute up top.
You could argue Jonathan Osorio is something of a surprise considering his age (34 on the day of Canada’s World Cup opener) and how much Marsch prefers bringing younger players to a World Cup. Osorio becomes the oldest player on Canada’s roster. But once Hoilett was left out of Canada’s training camp, it was clear some sort of veteran presence was needed in the team. Enter the Toronto FC midfielder who, it has to be said, is having a strong season with his club and moving quicker than he has in past campaigns.
The inclusion of Los Angeles FC’s Jacob Shaffelburg’s is a surprise: a recent leg injury caused him to miss a lengthy stretch of Canada’s training camp. The winger’s pace — a key component of his game — would undoubtedly be impacted by any lower body injury. Shaffelburg’s form with the national team has dipped since a breakout 2024 Copa America campaign. His straight-line game did not vary much from some of the other wingers at Marsch’s disposal.
Yet Shaffelburg is a highly coachable player who, at his peak, offers game-breaking qualities. That is enough for Marsch to include the 26-year-old in his roster.
Are there any notable injury absentees?
Not quite, but lingering injuries will, however, impact Canada’s World Cup: Richie Laryea’s recovery from a thigh injury cut into valuable Canada training sessions.
Alfie Jones likely won’t be ready to be impactful until later in the World Cup as he recovers from ankle surgery. Moise Bombito, who plays for Nice in Ligue 1, has not played since October after breaking his leg. He has stated in training camp he will be ready when the World Cup gets underway.
Ali Ahmed continues to progress after a hamstring injury in the final game of his club season. The hope is that Ahmed will play in Canada’s second and final World Cup tune-up against Ireland and be ready to go for Canada’s World Cup opener against Bosnia and Herzegovina.
What is the one problem the manager needs to solve?
What is the status of Alphonso Davies in the World Cup?
Davies did not attend Canada’s training camp in Charlotte. The Bayern Munich star has remained in Germany to recover from a hamstring injury suffered in the Champions League on May 6.
Davies is planned to meet the team in Edmonton on May 31 before their friendly against Uzbekistan. Marsch has said that while Davies will play in the World Cup, the left-back is doubtful to feature in Canada’s opener on June 12.
Jesse Marsch will face a difficult call on when to bring Alphonso Davies back into the team (Dan Istitene/Getty Images)
There are multiple questions that stem from the lingering uncertainty over Canada’s star defender: Will he even be recovered enough to feature in Canada’s group stage, or is the hope that he would be available for a possible Round of 32 game? How should Canada handle a player of Davies’ potential who might not be operating at 100 per cent? Is it more advantageous for the team to rely on others at left-back and left midfield, even if they don’t have Davies’ upside?
And, bigger picture: how much of a lost opportunity is it for Canada to market their team and the game’s growth in Canada without their most recognizable player on the pitch? After not having played for Canada since March 2025, will it be difficult for Davies to re-integrate into the squad during the most important tournament in the team’s history? Should Canada put together a run of wins in the group stage, dramatically altering the lineup could possibly mess with the team’s chemistry.
These are not easy questions for Marsch and Davies to answer. And they are not questions that will go away any time soon.
Who are their warm-up games against?
Canada open their World Cup in Toronto against Bosnia and Herzegovina on June 12. Before that they will play two warm-up games: on June 1 against Uzbekistan in Edmonton and June 5 against Ireland in Montreal.
Canada’s World Cup squad in full
Goalkeepers: Maxime Crépeau (Orlando City), Owen Goodman (Barnsley, on loan from Crystal Palace), Dayne St. Clair (Inter Miami).
Defenders: Moise Bombito (OGC Nice), Derek Cornelius (Rangers, on loan from Marseille), Alphonso Davies (Bayern Munich) Luc de Fougerolles (FCV Dender, on loan from Fulham), Alistair Johnston (Celtic), Alfie Jones (Middlesbrough), Richie Laryea (Toronto FC), Niko Sigur (Hajduk Split), Joel Waterman (Chicago Fire).
Midfielders: Ali Ahmed (Norwich City), Tajon Buchanan (Villarreal), Mathieu Choinière (Los Angeles FC), Stephen Eustaquio (Porto), Marcelo Flores (Tigres UANL), Ismael Kone (Sassuolo), Liam Millar (Hull City), Jonathan Osorio (Toronto FC), Nathan Saliba (RSC Anderlecht), Jacob Shaffelburg (Los Angeles FC)
Forwards: Jonathan David (Juventus), Cyle Larin (Southampton, on loan from RCD Mallorca), Tani Oluwaseyi (Villarreal), Promise David (Union SG)
