CANMNT Squad announced for Friendlies against Romania and Wales in the September FIFA Window

Canada announces squad for two high profile European fixtures

Canada Soccer has announced the selection of 24 players who will represent Canada Soccer’s Men’s National Team (CANMNT) in the upcoming September FIFA Window featuring international friendlies against Romania and Wales.

Canada will first face Romania (FIFA rank #48) on Friday 5 September at Arena Națională in Bucharest, followed by a match against Wales (FIFA rank #31) on Tuesday 9 September at Swansea.com Stadium in Swansea. These fixtures mark Canada’s first-ever meeting with Romania and fourth all-time encounter with Wales as the Men’s National Team continues its preparation for the FIFA World Cup 26™.

“The Gold Cup did not go the way we planned, and the group is eager to get back to work again. Romania and Wales are both formidable opponents and playing away from home always presents a challenging opportunity. These are the kinds of games that will show us where we stand and where we still need to improve with less than a year until the World Cup.”
– Jesse Marsch, MLS Canada Head Coach of the Men’s National Team

CANMNT recently moved up two spots in the latest FIFA Men’s World Ranking, rising to #28 – marking the highest FIFA ranking in the Federation’s history, beating the previous high of #30 in March 2025. Canada has been on a consistent upward trajectory since February 2024, rising 22 spots overall.

Looking ahead to October, Canada will return home to Montréal for a friendly against Australia on Friday 10 October at Stade Saputo, marking the CANMNT first match in the province of Québec since 2017. The window will conclude with an away match against Colombia, on Tuesday 14 October at Sports Illustrated Stadium in Harrison, New Jersey.

CANMNT Squad

Canada’s three goalkeepers this window will be Maxime Crépeau from Portland Timbers, Jayden Hibbert from Atlanta United and Dayne St. Clair from Minnesota United FC.

Defenders selected are: Zorhan Bassong from Sporting Kansas City, Derek Cornelius from Olympique de Marseille, Luc de Fougerolles from F.C.V. Dender E.H. (on loan from Fulham FC), Jamie Knight-Lebel from Bristol City FC, Richie Laryea from Toronto FC, Jahkeele Marshall-Rutty from Charlotte FC (on loan from CF Montréal), Niko Sigur from Hadjuk Split and Joel Waterman from Chicago Fire.

Midfielders joining the group are: Ali Ahmed from Vancouver Whitecaps FC, Tajon Buchanan from Villarreal CF, Mathieu Choinière from LAFC (on loan from Grasshopper Zurich), Stephen Eustáquio from FC Porto, Junior Hoilett from Hibernian FC, Ismaël Koné from U.S. Sassuolo Calcio (on loan from Olympique de Marseille), Jayden Nelson from Vancouver Whitecaps FC, Nathan Saliba from R.S.C. Anderlecht and Jacob Shaffelburg from Nashville SC.

The rest of the squad will feature forwards: Jonathan David from Juventus FC, Promise David from Royale Union Saint-Gilloise, Cyle Larin from RCD Mallorca and Tani Oluwaseyi from Minnesota United FC.

Broadcast Information

Both September friendly matches will air live 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, Bluesky, and YouTube featuring the hashtag #CANMNT. 

CANMNT A-Z

Player | Age | City in which they grew up | Notable Canadian youth clubs

Ahmed, Ali | 24 | Toronto, ON, CAN | North Toronto SC

Bassong, Zorhan | 26 | Toronto, ON, CAN | CS Longueuil

Buchanan, Tajon | 26 | Brampton, ON, CAN | Brampton YSC

Choinière, Mathieu | 26 | St-Alexandre, QC, CAN | AS Haut-Richelieu

Cornelius, Derek | 27 | Ajax, ON, CAN | Ajax SC

Crépeau, Maxime | 31 | Candiac, QC, CAN | Ligue de soccer pour enfants de Candiac

David, Jonathan | 25 | Ottawa, ON, CAN | Ottawa Gloucester Dragons

David, Promise | 24 | Brampton, ON, CAN | Vaughan Azzurri

De Fougerolles, Luc | 19 | London, UK |

Eustáquio, Stephen | 28 | Leamington, ON, CAN | Leamington MS