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Jesse Marsch announces first roster ahead of friendlies against two top-10 opponents
Canada Soccer has announced today the selection of 26 players who will represent Canada in two international friendlies in the June window. The two matches will serve as key preparation for the upcoming 2024 Copa América, in which Canada recently qualified for following a 2:0 win over Trinidad & Tobago in March.
Canada is set to play the Netherlands on Thursday 6 June at 14:45 ET / 11:45 PT and France on Sunday 9 June at 15:15 ET / 12:15 PT. The Canadian team will gather in Rotterdam on 3 June in preparation for the friendlies. Both of Canada’s matches will be available live on OneSoccer in Canada.
The squad marks the first of the Jesse Marsch era as MLS Canada Men’s National Team Head Coach. Marsch was announced as Canada’s new bench boss earlier this month, following an extensive global search. Marsch brings significant experience to the position, having previously managed across Europe’s top leagues, most recently with Leeds United in England’s Premier League. Marsch is set to finalize the rest of his team staff this week.
“I am extremely excited to get these players into camp together. I have had many discussions with the players over the last weeks and it is clear that we have an exceptional group of men playing for this country. Now the work gets started for us all to come together to become the team that we know this country deserves.” – Jesse Marsch, MLS Canada Men’s National Team Head Coach
Both matches will mark the Canada’s second-ever time facing the two opponents in their histories.
In the run-up to the 1994 FIFA World Cup, Canada met the Dutch on 12 June 1994, at Varsity Stadium in Toronto. Colin Miller and Ronald Koeman were the Canadian and Dutch captains on the day, respectively, as the Netherlands won 3:0 with goals scored by Dennis Bergkamp, Frank Rijkaard and Marc Overmars.
The Men’s National Team’s only previous matchup with the French was in Canada’s first ever FIFA World Cup match in 1986. France, captained by Michel Platini, defeated Canada 1:0 with a winner scored by Jean-Pierre Papin in the 79’ minute.
An exciting summer is set for Canada Soccer’s Men’s National Team, as they will face three current FIFA-ranked top 10 teams in a matter of weeks: Argentina (1), France (2) and Netherlands (7). In addition, this also marks their ninth match against current FIFA-ranked top 20 opponent in a little more than 18 months: Belgium (3), Croatia (10), USA (11), Morocco (13), Uruguay (15), Japan (18).
CANADA’S SQUAD
Canada’s three goalkeepers this window will be Maxime Crépeau from Portland Timbers, Thomas McGill from Brighton & Hove Albion and Dayne St. Clair from Minnesota United. Grégoire Swiderski from Girondins de Bordeaux B will also join the group as a training player.
Defenders selected are: Moïse Bombito from Colorado Rapids, Derek Cornelius from Malmo FF, Alphonso Davies from Bayern Munich, Luc de Fougerolles from Fulham FC, Kyle Hiebert from St. Louis CITY SC, Alistair Johnston from Celtic FC, Richie Laryea from Toronto FC, Kamal Miller from Portland Timbers and Dominick Zator from Korona Kielce.
Midfielders joining the group are: Mathieu Choinière from CF Montréal, Stephen Eustáquio from FC Porto, Ismaël Koné from Watford FC, Jonathan Osorio from Toronto FC and Samuel Piette from CF Montréal.
The rest of the squad will feature forwards: Thelonius Bair from Motherwell, Charles-Andreas Brym from Sparta Rotterdam, Tajon Buchanan from Inter Milan, Jonathan David from LOSC Lille, Junior Hoilett from Aberdeen FC, Cyle Larin from RCD Mallorca, Liam Millar from FC Basel, Jacob Shaffelburg from Nashville SC and Iké Ugbo from ESTAC Troyes.
BROADCAST INFORMATION
Both friendly matches will air LIVE and exclusively on OneSoccer, available on the fuboTV Canada platform, as a linear channel on TELUS’s Optik TV (Channel 980), as well as online at OneSoccer.ca and through the OneSoccer app. Fans will find extended coverage across Canada Soccer’s digital channels on Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube featuring the hashtag #CANMNT.
CANADA
GK – Maxime Crépeau | USA / Portland Timbers
GK – Thomas McGill | ENG / Brighton & Hove Albion FC
GK – Dayne St. Clair | USA / Minnesota United
GK – Grégoire Swiderski* | FRA / Girondins de Bordeaux B
FB – Alphonso Davies | GER / Bayern Munich
FB – Alistair Johnston | SCO / Celtic FC
FB – Richie Laryea | CAN / Toronto FC
FB – Dominick Zator | POL / Korona Kielce
CB – Moïse Bombito | USA / Colorado Rapids
CB – Derek Cornelius | SWE / Malmö FF
CB – Luc de Fougerolles | ENG / Fulham FC
CB – Kyle Hiebert | USA / St. Louis CITY SC
CB – Kamal Miller | USA / Portland Timbers
CM – Mathieu Choinière | CAN / CF Montréal
CM – Stephen Eustáquio | POR / FC Porto
CM – Ismaël Koné | ENG / Watford FC
CM – Jonathan Osorio | CAN / Toronto FC
CM – Samuel Piette | CAN / CF Montréal
W – Charles-Andreas Brym | NED / Sparta Rotterdam
W – Tajon Buchanan | ITA / Inter Milan
W – Junior Hoilett | SCO / Aberdeen FC
W – Liam Millar | SWI / FC Basel
W – Jacob Shaffelburg | USA / Nashville SC
F – Thelonius Bair | SCO / Motherwell
F – Jonathan David | FRA / LOSC Lille
F – Cyle Larin | SPA / RCD Mallorca
F – Iké Ugbo | FRA / ESTAC Troyes
*Training Player
CANADA (A-Z)
Player | Age | City in which they grew up | Notable Canadian youth clubs
Thelonius Bair | 24 | Ottawa, ON, CAN | Ottawa Royals
Moïse Bombito | 24 | Montréal, QC, CAN | CS St-Laurent
Charles-Andreas Brym | 25 | Montréal, QC, CAN | Montréal Impact
Tajon Buchanan | 25 | Brampton, ON, CAN | Brampton YSC
Mathieu Choinière | 25 | Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, QC, CAN | Celtix du Haut-Richelieu
Derek Cornelius | 26 | Ajax, ON, CAN | Ajax SC
Maxime Crépeau | 30 | Candiac, QC, CAN | Ligue de soccer pour enfants de Candiac
Jonathan David | 24 | Ottawa, ON, CAN | Ottawa Gloucester Dragons
Alphonso Davies | 23 | Edmonton, AB, CAN | Edmonton Inter
Luc de Fougerolles | 18 | London, ENG | Battersea Bedhead
Stephen Eustáquio | 27 | Leamington, ON, CAN | Leamington MS
Kyle Hiebert | 26 | Winnipeg, MB, CAN | WSA Winnipeg
Junior Hoilett | 33 | Brampton, ON, CAN | Brampton YSC
Alistair Johnston | 25 | Aurora, ON, CAN | Lakeshore SC
Ismaël Koné | 21 | Montréal, QC, CAN | AS Notre-Dame-de-Grâce
Cyle Larin | 29 | Brampton, ON, CAN | Brampton YSC
Richie Laryea | 29 | Toronto, ON, CAN | Sigma FC
Thomas McGill | 24 | Belleville, ON, CAN
Liam Millar | 24 | Brampton, ON, CAN | Brampton YSC
Kamal Miller | 27 | Scarborough, ON, CAN | Scarborough Malvern SC
Jonathan Osorio | 31 | Brampton, ON, CAN | Toronto Futsal League
Samuel Piette | 29 | Le Gardeur, QC, CAN | Lionceaux du Gardeur
Jacob Shaffelburg | 24 | Kentville, NS, CAN | Valley United SC
Dayne St. Clair | 27 | Pickering, ON, CAN | Ephinay Church Soccer League
Iké Ugbo | 25 | Brampton, ON, CAN | Brampton East SC
Dominick Zator | 29 | Calgary, AB, CAN | Calgary Foothills SC
CANADA SOCCER’S MEN’S NATIONAL TEAM
Canada Soccer’s Men’s National Team have recently finished as runners up in the 2022-23 Concacaf Nations League and reached the Quarterfinals at the 2023 Concacaf Gold Cup. In 2022, Canada returned to the men’s FIFA World Cup for the first time in 36 years after they finished first in the Concacaf Final Round of FIFA World Cup Qualifiers. Canada will take part in the 2024 Copa América, co-organized between Concacaf and CONMEBOL, set to be played this summer in the United States.
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