By Daniel Feuerstein | Toronto, ON | March 19th, 2026
Canada Men’s National Team Head Coach Jesse Marsch informed the Media of his decisions for the roster this March International Window, as Canada will face Iceland on Saturday, March 28th, and against Tunisia on Tuesday, March 31st. Both matches will be played at BMO Field in Toronto, Ontario. These two matches will be considered the final tune-up for players who have either made the roster, are on the bubble, or might not make it to this summer’s World Cup.
Canada’s Roster
GOALKEEPERS:
MAXIME CREPEAU ORLANDO CITY (USA)
OWEN GOODMAN BARNSLEY FC (CURRENTLY ON LOAN FROM CRYSTAL PALACE) (ENG)
DAYNE ST. CLAIRE INTER MIAMI (USA)
DEFENDERS:
DEREK CORNELIUS RANGERS FC (SCO) (CURRENTLY ON LOAN FROM OLYMPIQUE DE MARSEILLE) (FRA)
LUC de FOUGEROLLES FCV DENDER (BEL) (CURRENTLY ON LOAN FROM FULHAM FC)(ENG)
RICHIE LARYEA TORONTO FC
JAHKEELE MARSHALL-RUTTY RED BULL NEW YORK (USA)
KAMAL MILLER PORTLAND TIMBERS (USA)
RALPH PRISO VANCOUVER WHITECAPS
NIKO SIGUR HAJDUK SPLIT (CRO)
JOEL WATERMAN CHICAGO FIRE (USA)
MIDFIELDERS:
ALIAHMED NORWICH CITY (ENG)
TAJON BUCHANAN VILLARREAL CF (ESP)
MATHIEU CHOINIERE LOS ANGELES FC (USA)
MARCELO FLORES TIGRES UANL (MEX)
JUNIOR HOILETT SWINDON TOWN (ENG)
ISMAEL KONE U.S. SASSUOLO CALCIO (ITA)
LIAM MILLER HULL CITY (ENG)
JONATHAN OSORIO TORONTO FC
NATHAN SALIBA R.S.C. ANDERLECHT (BEL)
FORWARDS:
JONATHAN DAVID JUVENTUS FC (ITA)
DANIEL JEBBISON PRESTON NORTH END (CURRENTLY ON LOAN FROM AFC BOURNEMOUTH) (ENG)
CYLE LARIN SOUTHHAMPTON FC (ENG) (CURRENTLY ON LOAN FROM RCD MALLORCA)(ESP)
TANI OLUWASEYI VILLARREAL CF (ESP)
ARIBIM PEPPLE PLYMOUTH ARGILE (ENG)
JACEN RUSSELL-ROWE TOULESE FC (FRA)
Players who are joining but will only be used for training sessions, as they will continue to work on returning to full fitness and won’t be a part of the matches.
ALISTAIR JOHNSTON CELTIC FC (SCO)
MOISE BOMBITO OGC NICE (FRA)
Changing the style of attack for this window
The hope from Jesse Marsch was to make this camp more about a stylistic approach and just to give players he knew he would call in for the main World Cup Roster and give them time to prepare for the big summer ahead. Well, due to some injuries to a few players, including Alphonso Davies, Marsch had to switch things up and call in some players whom he might give a look at for these two games. Maybe they make the roster, maybe not, but if there is a player who has made Marsch’s mind change or select them for the future, then that is also a good thing.
“So we then transferred it more to a performance camp. And now it’s an opportunity for some new faces and some new players to be in the camp and learn what we do and make a case for themselves, and then an obvious chance for everyone at the camp to make one last impression and to show how ready they are for what the summer will require, and obviously to find a way to get two wins against two very good opponents.”
One player that will be sorely missed is Stephen Eustaquio, during a match playing for Los Angeles FC. After running into the referee by accident and picking up a dead leg, he went for a massage with the trainer, and then a bigger issue popped up, and Eustaquio will be sidelined for a bit more of an extended time. A frustrating time for Eustaquio right now, as they are very close to the World Cup, but hopefully, he can make the roster as he is an important cog in the attack for Canada.
“I know that it hasn’t been so clear what happened with him after running into the referee two weeks ago and picking up a dead leg. He then, in his recovery protocols, got a deep tissue massage. And in that process, it actually ruptured the dead leg that he had and created a hematoma. So what we thought was going to get him back for this camp pretty easily has now meant that he will be out for two or three or maybe four weeks. His recovery process for that. He’s obviously frustrated, but we’ve had good dialogue with LAFC and tried to support them and Steph to get him back to full health. We thought, for him, traveling is not a good plan, since what little hamstring he has— nothing to be too alarmed at— delayed his recovery. So we felt that his staying in LA was important.”
What will Marsch look for with players on the bubble for the roster?
We all know who Marsch will select for the main roster, but the bigger questions are what about some players who might get that chance to make it this summer. There might be a few players who could edge themselves toward making it, but some might be on the edge of not making it. There could be a surprise or two, but for now, in this camp, Marsch is making sure the players he will choose will be ready to go and give it their all, facing both Iceland and Tunisia.
“I don’t want to put them in a bad place and make sure that when they’re called upon, they’re ready to perform. We try to give our players a chance. If you go back through the time, whether it was Copa America… Whether it was Gold Cup… the roles are, and what the identity of the way we try to play is. And almost no matter who’s been… Responsible for wearing that Canadian Jersey, on that day, you’ve seen the mentality, the concept of how we want to play, the tactical awareness, the intelligence, and the commitment to be aggressive and make it difficult on the opponent. All moments you’ve seen that, and that makes me very proud as their coach, and I want to make sure that we represent exactly that again in these next two matches.”
Who is the starting goalkeeper
Some are wondering if Marsch will name his starting goalkeeper during this window instead of the scheduled date when it will happen. Right now, that’s not the case. Marsch wants to see both of his top goalkeepers in action. One will play the first match, while the other will play the second match. But so far, Dayne St. Claire is doing well at Inter Miami, and Maxime Crepeau at Orlando City is currently being managed by an interim manager, as Oscar Pareja had parted ways after three matches in the 2026 MLS Season.
“No, they’ll each get one match and all the information will begiven to them, and then, as we get together in May and get closer to June, we’ll be ready to decide at some point, whether it’s at the beginning of camp or middle of camp or before the first match, we’ll identify that as they continue to go along. But I can just say that I think both of them have continued to show their form. Their mentality. I think the red card for Max, I’ve been in that New York City pitch, and it’s the worst. In professional soccer in the world, that pitch. And so it’s impossible to know your surroundings and where the lines are and how the lines on the grass and even the referees get offside wrong all the time. Like, I don’t put that mistake on Max; that was a total anomaly and outlier, and both of them, I think, continue to push themselves to qualify as the starting goalkeeper.”
This is the opportunity some of these players are going to get, and hopefully can make the roster for this summer. For others, they probably know already that they are ready to be selected for the roster, but as always, you need these games to make sure you can cement that roster spot and truly prepare for the games that are coming this June and hopefully make a run toward the knockout stage and make a mark.
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