Canada announced its squad its two friendlies against Ecuador and Venezuela this month Thursday.
And three new players will be joining Jesse Marsch’s squad this time out. Middlesbrough defender Alfie Jones, Huddersfield Town goalkeeper Owen Goodman (on loan with Crystal Palace) and Tigres winger Marcelo Flores will each join Canada’s camp for the first time.
Loading ...Canada’s men lost 1-0 to Australia in Montreal and drew 0-0 with Columbia in New Jersey during the last international window in October.
“This is one of our final windows before the FIFA World Cup, and it will be crucial that we finish this year strong before the extended break,” said Canada coach Marsch said in a statement Thursday. “It’s been a pleasure to coach this team and this group. We’re in the home stretch of a major moment for the program and this country.
“We’ve made a lot of progress this Fall and are eager to showcase that again in front of a big Canadian crowd in Toronto next Thursday.”
Jones an experienced defender
Alfie Jones is a 28-year-old English-born defender who qualifies to play for Canada through his grandfather. Jones has made 14 appearances for his English Championship side Middlesbrough, scoring one goal.
“Alfie has been on our radar for a while,” said Marsch during a media conference Thursday. “I’ve been recruiting him and working with him, along with the CSA, to try and get him his citizenship. He is in basically the final stages. The plan is he will take the oath when he gets to Toronto. And then he will be officially ready for his citizenship.”
Flores switches allegiances for Canada
Marcelo Flores was born in Ontario but initially chose to play for Mexico, making three appearances. But because Flores was under 21 years-old when he collected his Mexico caps, he is still eligible to make a one-time switch to Canada. The 22-year-old has made four appearances for Liga MX club Tigres this season, scoring one goal.
“(Flores) and I have been in touch the last few months,” said Marsch. “I’ve invited him into camp before, specifically in the summer. There were different things that were happening that he wasn’t ready to do that quite yet. The last time I met with him, and as we’ve talked more and more, he’s become more and more eager to really consider what it would be like to be Canadian and be a Canadian national team member.
“I think that he sees this as something that is meaningful to him. And not just a career choice, but life choice.”
Goodman fighting to join Canada
Owen Goodman was born in London but lived in Canada for 10 years as a child. The 21-year-old has yet to make an appearance for Crystal Palace.
“(Goodman) and I have spoken over the last week and he’s confessed to me very clearly that he feels very Canadian and he’s been a bit obsessed with finding a way to get his Canadian citizenship because he wants to fight to be part of this national team,” said Marsch.
“He’s a player with big potential and we’re really excited to have him under our umbrella as the Canadian national team.”
Canada’s match with Ecuador will take place Thursday, Nov. 13 at BMO Field in Toronto. And they’ face Venezuela in at Chase Stadium in Florida Monday, Nov. 18.
After that Canada will learn its 2026 FIFA World Cup group stage opponents on Friday Dec. 5 when the draw is made in Washington, DC.
Canada’s squad:
Goalkeepers:
- Maxime Crépeau – Portland Timbers
- Owen Goodman – Huddersfield Town (on loan from Crystal Palace)
- Dayne St. Clair – Minnesota United FC
Defenders:
- Zorhan Bassong – Sporting Kansas City
- Derek Cornelius – Rangers FC (on loan from Olympique de Marseille)
- Alfie Jones – Middlesbrough FC
- Richie Laryea – Toronto FC
- Kamal Miller – Portland Timbers FC
- Niko Sigur – Hadjuk Split
- Joel Waterman – Chicago Fire
Midfielders:
- Ali Ahmed – Vancouver Whitecaps FC
- Tajon Buchanan – Villarreal CF
- Mathieu Choinière –
LAFC (on loan from Grasshopper Zurich) - Stephen Eustáquio – FC Porto
- Junior Hoilett – Hibernian FC
- Ismaël Koné – U.S. Sassuolo Calcio (on loan from Olympique de Marseille)
- Jayden Nelson – Vancouver Whitecaps FC
- Jonathan Osorio – Toronto FC
- Nathan Saliba – R.S.C. Anderlecht
Forwards:
- Theo Bair – Lausanne-Sport (on loan from AJ Auxerre)
- Jonathan David – Juventus FC
- Promise David – Royale Union Saint-Gilloise
- Cyle Larin – Feyenoord (on loan from RCD Mallorca)
- Tani Oluwaseyi from Villarreal CF
Training Player:
- Marcelo Flores – Tigres UANL
