Canada Soccer announces FIFA World Cup Qualifiers squad for October matches

Canada Soccer’s Men’s National Team will build on their unbeaten run in FIFA World Cup Qualifiers when they face their next three opponents in the Concacaf Final Round with matches against Mexico, Jamaica and Panama. The Canada squad for these three matches features a core group of players who continue to build on the momentum in reaching the Concacaf Final Round for the first time in nearly 25 years.

“We have three tough matches including back-to-back road matches in altitude and then heat, but we want these tests, and the team is ready for them,” said John Herdman, Canada Soccer’s Men’s National Team Head Coach. “The team will enjoy the match in Azteca, it’s a great arena for any footballer to play and we are looking forward to meet the Mexicans again following our recent Concacaf Gold Cup Semi-Final match. It’s a quick turnaround to play against a very talented Jamaican squad, before coming home to play Panama and with our fans behind us, it’s a great way to finish the window.”

Canada will start the October matches on the road against Mexico on Thursday 7 October (20.40 local / 21.40 ET / 18.40 PT) and then travel to Jamaica for their next away match on Sunday 10 October (17.00 local / 18.00 ET / 15.00 PT). Canada will play the third match at home on Wednesday 13 October at BMO Field in Toronto against Panama, with tickets available via Ticketmaster.ca (19.30 local / 19.30 ET / 16.30 PT). All three matches will be broadcast live on OneSoccer including TELUS channel 980, onesoccer.ca, Sportsnet and RDS, including a one-hour Match Day Live show.

Fans will find extended coverage across Canada Soccer’s digital channels on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube featuring the hashtags #CANMNT and #CANWNT.

Canada v Panama | 13 October 2021 – kickoff at 19.30 local
Tickets https://www.ticketmaster.ca/event/10005B27BA1513E2

With five points from their first three matches in September, Canada are tied for second amongst the eight nations in the Concacaf Final Round, with 11 matches to be played between October 2021 and March 2022. From 14 matches, the top-three teams will qualify for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ while the fourth-place team will advance to an intercontinental playoff with an additional opportunity to qualify for Qatar 2022.

“We are sitting tied for second after the first round of matches and head into this window confident we can keep progressing as a team,” said Herdman.

Canada and Mexico have faced each other most recently in the Semi-Final round of the 2021 Concacaf Gold Cup, with Mexico only pulling through with a goal in the ninth minute of added time of the second half. Mexico finished in second place at the Concacaf Gold Cup, and also recently finished in second place in 2019-20 Concacaf Nations League A. Mexico are currently in first place in the Concacaf Final Round of FIFA World Cup Qualifiers with seven points from three matches.

Canada and Jamaica last faced each other in a pair of matches in 2017, with Jamaica the 2:1 winners at the Concacaf Gold Cup and Canada the 2:0 winners in an international friendly match in Toronto. Jamaica most recently reached the Quarter-Finals at the 2021 Concacaf Gold Cup and picked up one point from their first three matches in FIFA World Cup Qualifiers, including a road loss to Mexico after they conceded a last-minute goal.

Canada and Panama last faced each other in a 2014 friendly and before that at the 2013 Concacaf Gold Cup, with both matches ending in 0:0 draws. Panama were eliminated in the group phase of the 2021 Concacaf Gold Cup, but have since started with a win and two draws in FIFA World Cup Qualifiers to match Canada on five points after three matches.

From Canada’s three matches in September, Canada drew 1:1 at home against Honduras, drew 1:1 away against USA, and then won 3:0 at home against El Salvador.

“We play for Canada, and it is the fans for whom we are doing this, for those who are as passionate about this sport and country as us” said Herdman. “We want to take this country and our fans to a FIFA World Cup, that is our mission and playing at home our fans are the difference makers.”

Beyond the October matches, Canada Soccer announced that their two November home matches will be played at Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton, Alberta. Canada will open the two-match home series against Costa Rica on 12 November before taking on Mexico on 16 November.  Ticket details for both matches will be shared this month with all public health guidelines being observed to ensure the safety for all players and fans.

CANADA SQUAD
Canada’s squad features players from professional clubs in Concacaf, Asia and Europe, including current UEFA Champions League players Jonathan David of Lille OSC in France, Alphonso Davies of FC Bayern München in Germany, and both Atiba Hutchinson and Cyle Larin from Beşiktaş JK in Turkey.

Other Canada squad members currently in Europe include fullback Samuel Adekugbe of Hatayspor FC in Turkey, goalkeeper Milan Borjan of Red Star Belgrade in Serbia, midfielder Stephen Eustáquio of FC Paços de Ferreira in Portugal, Junior Hoilett of Reading FC in England, centre back Steven Vitória of Moreirense FC in Portugal and midfielder David Wotherspoon of St. Johnstone FC in Scotland. Joining the squad for the October window are forward Charles-Andreas Brym of FC Eindhoven, centre back Derek Cornelius of Panetolikos FC in Greece and forward Liam Millar of FC Basel in Switzerland.

From Canada’s three MLS clubs, the returning call ups include forward Lucas Cavallini and goalkeeper Maxime Crépeau of Vancouver Whitecaps FC, fullback Richie Laryea and midfielder Jonathan Osorio of Toronto FC, and goalkeeper James Pantemis, centre back Kamal Miller, and midfielder Samuel Piette of CF Montréal. Fullback Zachary Brault-Guillard of CF Montréal and Jacob Shaffelburg of Toronto FC have joined the squad for the October window.

Other returning call ups from MLS are forward Tajon Buchanan of New England Revolution, midfielder Liam Fraser of Columbus Crew SC, fullback Alistair Johnston of Nashville SC, and midfielder Mark-Anthony Kaye of Colorado Rapids. Centre back Doneil Henry plays for Suwon Samsung Bluewings in Korea Republic.

CANADA SOCCER’S MEN’S NATIONAL TEAM PROGRAM
Canada has built plenty of momentum in a landmark year for the Men’s National Team Program that will feature a record 19 international matches including FIFA World Cup Qualifiers and the Concacaf Gold Cup. Canada have already played 12 of those 19 matches, posting a record of 9-1-2 with six clean sheets and a record 43 goals scored. Canada also set a record with eight consecutive wins and reached the Concacaf Gold Cup Semifinals for the first time since 2007.

Canada will play eight of their 14 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers in the Concacaf Final Round from September through November 2021: three matches in September, three matches in October, and two matches in November. In 2022, Canada will play three more matches in January/February and three more matches in March. Along with Honduras, USA and El Salvador, Canada’s other opponents in the Concacaf Final Round are Costa Rica, Jamaica, Mexico, and Panama.

To reach the Concacaf Final Round, Canada won their First Round group against Aruba, Bermuda, Cayman Islands and Suriname, then eliminated Haiti in a head-to-head Second Round series. This marks the first time since 1997 that Canada have reached the Concacaf Final Round of FIFA World Cup Qualifiers. From the Concacaf Final Round of eight nations, the top-three nations automatically qualify for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ and the fourth-best nation advance to an inter-continental playoff for additional FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™Qualifiers.

Canada Soccer’s Men’s National Team are two-time Concacaf champions, previously winning the 1985 Concacaf Championship and 2000 Concacaf Gold Cup. This year marked Canada’s 15th participation at the Concacaf Gold Cup since 1991. Along with their first-place finish in 2000, Canada reached the Semifinals in 2002, 2007, and 2021. Across the past five years from 2017 to 2021, Canada are one of only four nations that finished top-six across all four Concacaf major tournaments: fifth place in Concacaf Nations League A, sixth place at both the 2017 and 2019 Concacaf Gold Cups, and a semi-final finish at the 2021 Concacaf Gold Cup.

CANADA
GK- Milan Borjan | SRB / FK Crvena zvezda (Red Star Belgrade)
GK- Maxime Crépeau | CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps FC
GK- James Pantemis | CAN / CF Montréal
CB- Derek Cornelius | GRE / Panetolikos FC
CB- Doneil Henry | KOR / Suwon Samsung Bluewings
CB- Kamal Miller | CAN / CF Montréal
CB- Steven Vitória | POR / Moreirense FC
FB- Samuel Adekugbe | TUR / Hatayspor FC
FB- Zachary Brault-Guillard | CAN / CF Montréal
FB- Alistair Johnston | USA / Nashville SC
FB- Richie Laryea | CAN / Toronto FC
M- Stephen Eustáquio | POR / FC Paços de Ferreira
M- Liam Fraser | USA / Columbus Crew SC
M- Atiba Hutchinson | TUR / Beşiktaş JK
M- Mark-Anthony Kaye | USA / Colorado Rapids
M- Jonathan Osorio | CAN / Toronto FC
M- Samuel Piette | CAN / CF Montréal
M- David Wotherspoon | SCO / St. Johnstone FC
F- Charles-Andreas Brym | NED / FC Eindhoven
F- Lucas Cavallini | CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps FC
F- Jonathan David | FRA / Lille OSC
F- Cyle Larin | TUR / Beşiktaş JK
W- Tajon Buchanan | USA / New England Revolution
W- Alphonso Davies | GER / FC Bayern München
W- David Junior Hoilett | ENG / Reading FC
W- Liam Millar | SUI / FC Basel
W- Jacob Shaffelburg | CAN / Toronto FC