The Canadian men’s national team announced the roster Wednesday that will compete in the 2025 Concacaf Nations League Finals in California later this month.
And Canada head coach Jesse Marsch is confident heading into the semifinal against Mexico March 20 at SoFi Stadium Inglewood with a roster he believes could be Canada’s best ever.
“We are really excited about this group,” said Marsch during an online media conference Wednesday after the roster announcement. “About the options we have at different positions, the positional flexibility we have within this team, the high-level talent we have within this team, and the overall depth of the squad.
“I think this is the strongest that the Canadian national soccer team has ever looked.”
Mexican crowd to be a factor in Concacaf Nations League semifinal
Marsch knows his squad will likely face a pro-Mexico crowd when it plays El Tri in the semifinal.
“I think that our players relish these environments,” said Marsch. “You look at Copa America, it was another situation where every match was an away match.
“We’re super excited for the challenge, to be in the environment and have our backs against the wall. I know our guys will be ready.”
And Marsch is adamant Canada will try to play on the front foot, despite the calibre of their opponents.
“From the start, we’re going to be aggressive,” he said. “We’re going to go after them. We’re going to try and play the game on our terms. And we’re really excited about this challenge.”
Daniel Jebbison and Promise David join Canada national team
Marsch has included two notable newcomers in his squad. Forwards Promise David and Daniel Jebbison will be joining the national team for their first camp.
David, 23, plays for Union Saint-Gilloise in Belgium’s top flight, and has scored 16 goals in all competitions.
“The reason why I’ve hunted them so heavily is because I really believe that they will fit what we do,” said Marsch. “We’ll be ready to insert them into games and see how they do. And give them a chance to show what they’re about. And clearly both are highly talented players. And specifically Promise is in rally good form. We’re excited to get both of them in.”
Jebbison, 21, meanwhile, is a striker for English Premier League club Bournemouth where he has made 12 appearances so far this season. In January he was recalled from a loan spell at EFL Championship club Watford.
“First of all, Daniel has massive potential,” said Marsch. “And he’s still a little raw and developing into the potential of what he can be. But his mentality to learn, to grow, to push his desire to be part of this national team I think is at really high level. I’m super excited to get him involved.
“I do think he can be a really important player for us moving forward and certainly towards 2026. And it was important to get him assimilated into our group for me as quickly as possible.”
Ismaël Koné and Tajon Buchanan ‘look like themselves’
Marsch believes two familiar Canadian internationals are benefiting from recent club moves.
At the start of February Ismaël Koné joined France’s Rennes from Marseille, both of France’s Ligue 1 and Tajon Buchanan joined Spain’s Villareal from Italy’s Inter Milan. Both moves are loans.
“I think they both look like themselves, which is the best thing about both of the moves that they made,” said Marsch. “Ismaël’s had a couple of starts and Tajon’s been more used off the bench. But both look like they are bringing the qualities of aggressiveness and self belief that they have. And I think that’s been a really important development for both of them.
“We’ll have to continue to push them in their club lives, so they continue to establish themselves at the highest level. And that will be the most important thing looking toward 2026.”
