We are now under two months away from the 2026 World Cup. With this in mind, and with CANMNT manager Jesse Marsch’s habit to experiment with many combos at international friendlies, now seems like as good a time as ever to predict the 26-man Canada World Cup Roster.
While Les Rouges have been riddled with injury, most of the country’s top players are expected to be healthy by the start of the World Cup, barring further injury. Because of this, it’s worth noting that the only player I’ve excluded from this list that would’ve otherwise made it is Promise David. From what we understand as of today, David appears to be a long-shot for June.
Without further ado, here’s our prediction for the 2026 Canada World Cup roster, starting with goalkeepers and moving up to strikers.
GK1: Dayne St. Clair (Inter Miami, 28 y/o)
This decision was tough, but if I had to guess, I’d predict that St. Clair gets the #1 shirt at the World Cup. He and my second choice have gone back and forth in Marsch’s favour for the starting spot, but, as I will soon discuss, club form may play too big of a role at this point for Marsch to choose against DSC.
GK2: Maxime Crépeau (Orlando City, 31 y/o)
Last season, Crépeau lost the permanent #1 shirt at Portland Timbers. This season, after a transfer to Orlando City, things have not been going well, to say the least. Orlando City has conceded fewer that two goals one time this season – in the singular game that Crépeau did not play. After being shown red in a March game vs NYCFC, Crépeau sat on the sideline as his team conceded 5 goals. Not to be topped, his next two appearances for the club saw Crépeau allow 5 and 6 goals vs Nashville and LAFC, respectively.
With all this said, I understand that Crépeau has historically looked good for Canada, but I just can’t imagine that his 2026 club form can be overlooked.
GK3: Owen Goodman (Huddersfield Town, 22 y/o)
Because there is a fleeting chance that a nation’s third choice goalkeeper will ever have to play, I’d bet that Canada will choose a youngster to get the experience of travelling with the team. If it’s not Goodman, it could also be Hibbert or Swiderski. Either way, this is a more inconsequential choice.
LB1: Alphonso Davies (Bayern Munich, 25 y/o)
Who else could it have been?
Davies has been beat up by injuries all season for Bayern, but he’s finally got back to playing recently, just in time for a potential UCL finals run. In these games back, he’s delivered some beautiful assists, and looks like he has not lost one bit of his pace. If healthy at the World Cup, Davies might be able to prove that he’s still the world’s LB1.
LB2: Richie Laryea (Toronto FC, 31 y/o)
I’ve seen people say that Laryea should start at LB and that Les Rouges should slide Phonsie up to LM. I’ll get to Canada’s elite LM depth later, but there’s another reason why this is a bad idea: Laryea is a swiss army knife.
In his last 5 games for club, Laryea has been listed in the XI as a centre back, a right back, a right midfielder, and a defensive midfielder. Coming off the bench, Laryea can fill in for just about any position on the pitch outside of striker and goalkeeper. This sort of thing is invaluable for a squad, and it’s why the desire to have Laryea as a substitute is purely a compliment to his game.
RB1: Alistair Johnston (Celtic, 27 y/o)
The biggest thing with Johnston is that he’s been unable to stay healthy this season. If he can be healthy and in-form by the time of the World Cup, he’s instantly one of the 5 most skilled players featured for CANMNT. If he isn’t, I think we have a pretty darn good backup RB choice…
RB2: Niko Sigur (Hajduk Split, 22 y/o)
At just 22 years old, Sigur has made himself a key part of a red-hot Hajduk side. A prime candidate for a big summer transfer, Sigur provides fullback depth that Canada may need if injuries prove to be a major problem. Also worth noting is that he’s very capable of playing in a CDM role should Marsch want to switch things up.
CB1: Moïse Bombito (OGC Nice, 26 y/o)
Bombito has hardly played this season, but he has a good chance at being back in time for the World Cup – and what an addition he would be.
The general vibe around Bombito in CANMNT circles is that he has all the tools to move up to even another level in club-play, which is saying a lot given that he was a huge part of a top-4 finish with Nice in Ligue 1 last season. Bombito is perhaps the only Canadian CB with the physical gifts to limit world-class strikers, and CANMNT should be worried if he doesn’t make it back in time.
CB2: Derek Cornelius (Rangers, 28 y/o)
Yet another defender with injury concerns, Cornelius looked great with Marseille last season, looked great in limited time with Rangers this season, and has always looked great in red with Canada. Assuming that he’ll be fully healthy by June, Cornelius provides CANMNT with size, set-piece ability, and veteran pedigree in the XI.
CB3: Alfie Jones (Middlesborough, 28 y/o)
A key part of a Middlesborough side poised for promotion to the Premier League and yet another injured player, British-born Alfie Jones found out he was eligible to compete with Canada in 2025, and debuted for Les Rouges in November.
With the addition of Jones to the defensive core, Canada gets more veteran experience, capable defense, and depth in case it’s needed.
CB4: Luc De Fougerolles (Dender, 20 y/o)
Having made appearances for Canada’s senior team since he was just 18, De Fougerolles is now out of the Premier League’s u21 system and playing true senior football in Belgium. While he’s looked on and off at times with Canada, often making inexperienced mistakes, De Fougerolles is certainly not a bad choice as a backup centre back (who can also play fullback).
CB5: Joel Waterman (Chicago Fire, 30 y/o)
As a third team CB, Waterman provides enough to be serviceable for Canada: he’s big, will give the squad veteran leadership, and is playing enough in the MLS to be in good form going into the World Cup.
CM1: Ismaël Koné (Sassuolo, 23 y/o)
As of writing this, Koné has just scored another goal in Serie A. He’s in incredible form, and he doesn’t show any sign of slowing down. Now the third most valuable Canadian according to Transfermarkt, and quickly closing in on Jonathan David, Koné looks to lead the next generation of Canadian midfielders.
CM2: Stephen Eustáquio (LAFC, 29 y/o)
There is absolutely a case that Staq is still the best Canadian midfielder, and I certainly wouldn’t argue with anyone who believed this to be true. Now at LAFC after losing favour at Porto, Eustáquio has looked great as an MLS talent. Still Canada’s heartbeat with the armband, Staq is now just doing it as a seasoned veteran.
CM3: Nathan-Dylan Saliba (Anderlecht, 21 y/o)
Saliba is another talent that Canada will likely look to for generations to come. Now having moved from CF Montreal to Anderlecht, Saliba has done great as a starter in a strong Belgian side at just 21.
Canada may still be one World Cup cycle away from this, but Saliba looks like a worthy successor to Eustáquio in CANMNT’s double-pivot.
CM4: Mathieu Choiniere (LAFC, 27 y/o)
Choiniere’s level may be a drop-off from the top three choices at CM, but don’t let this fool you – he’s still an excellent depth choice. This season, Choiniere has looked great for an MLS-contending LAFC side. I’d argue this is the best he’s ever looked. As a fourth choice midfielder, Choiniere provides offensive threat, game IQ, and comfort in a lesser role.
CM5: Jonathan Osorio (Toronto FC, 33 y/o)
This case is pretty simple: Osorio likely won’t need to play real minutes, but he is a veteran who’s been capped with Canada since 2015, and who deserves to be an off-pitch leader for one last ride at the 2026 World Cup. If he is called on, there are certainly worse choices than a long-time key starter for an MLS side.
LM1: Ali Ahmed (Norwich City, 25 y/o)
In no small part due to Ahmed’s contributions, since January, Norwich City has gone from fighting relegation to looking like a promotion playoff dark horse. In his 16 matches with the club in a LW/CAM role, Ahmed has 4 goals and 3 assists.
On the country side, Ahmed has looked amazing for Canada just about every time he’s featured, providing excellent hustle and pressing ability. Ahmed’s recent breakout is more than welcome, and it’s the exact type of X-factor that Cinderella runs need.
LM2: Marcelo Flores (Tigres, 22 y/o)
Just recently fully committing to Canada, Marcelo Flores looked amazing in his CANMNT friendly debuts. Now battling a muscle tear, Flores has become questionable for the World Cup. Still, this injury’s timetable should only keep him out for 4-6 weeks.
Assuming that Flores is healthy for the World Cup, he’s the exact type of high-energy pace demon that every team needs. It almost feels wrong putting him outside of the starting XI, but in Canada’s 4-4-2, Flores may be the odd man out. Either way, his addition is a great one for Canada.
LM3: Jacob Shaffelburg (LAFC, 26 y/o)
I am coming out to say that there is still room for a pace merchant on the Canadian Men’s National Team. Shaff would be something like the 24th man on this Canadian roster, so I don’t think there’s anything wrong with his inclusion as the type of player who can sub on at the 85th minute of a 2-0 defeat.
RM1: Tajon Buchanan (Villarreal, 27 y/o)
Having started in over half of Villarreal’s La Liga matches and appeared in all but two of them, Buchanan has been a key piece in a Villarreal side that may have the most La Liga points of any club not named Barcelona or Real Madrid.
With Canada, in regards to the strikers’ slipping form, Buchanan may be CANMNT’s single most important offensive player, constantly pressing, attacking the box, and creating scoring chances for a team that has struggled to score. In Canada’s friendly vs Iceland, Buchanan’s constant pressure led to a penalty for Jonathan David. With a strong Tajon, Canada can perhaps score their second World Cup goal in June.
RM2: Liam Millar (Hull City, 26 y/o)
Millar’s natural position with Canada may be on the left wing, but given Flores’ ascension, Canada’s depth may go the farthest if Millar plays on the right. Looking great for a very strong Hull City side, Millar is another player that can play a Swiss Army Knife role for Canada off the bench, and a player whose hustle would be welcomed by any team.
ST1: Jonathan David (Juventus, 26 y/o)
David is a tough one. He looked elite enough last season at Lille to get interest from Juventus. But with Juventus, he has not looked even close to the same player. With Lille, David provided 0.6 g/90. At Juve, this production has been cut in half at 0.3 g/90, mostly all coming in a singular strong month of January.
Based on pedigree alone, there is no other choice than Jonathan David as Canada’s lead striker. Based on form, though, it’s hard to not be worried about Canada’s attack.
ST2: Tani Oluwaseyi (Villarreal, 25 y/o)
Tani has struggled to secure a role at Villarreal, but i still have faith in him to be productive starting alongside David in Canada’s XI. While Oluwaseyi hasn’t found the back of the net often in limited time in La Liga, he has 5 goals in 10 appearances between the UCL and Copa Del Rey. Villarreal scored just 5 goals in the UCL, and 2 of them belong to Tani. He’s struggled, yes, but clearly something is there.
Either way, Oluwaseyi is athletic and understands Marsch’s system. Even if he struggles to finish, his ability to press and attack can set Canada’s other attackers up for goals.
ST3: Cyle Larin (Southampton, 30 y/o)
Larin might be the most confusing case. He hasn’t had an elite club season since 2021, he hasn’t looked particularly elite for Canada since 2022 World Cup Qualifying, and yet, a recent elite streak at Southampton has reignited the dream that Larin can still produce for Canada.
I don’t know how real it is, but if there’s something there, I certainly wouldn’t mind a Canadian striker who’s capable of finding the back of the net.
ST4: Daniel Jebbison (Preston North End, 22 y/o)
Jebbison has been two years away from being two years away for five years now, but he’s not a bad option as a fourth-choice striker. He’s in okay form at Preston North End, and he’s looked good in recent friendlies for Canada. If called on, I’m comfortable with him being a rotation striker.
Summary: 2026 Canada World Cup Roster Depth Chart
| GK | FB | CB | CM | WM | ST | |
| 1st Choice | Dayne St. Clair | Alphonso Davies | Moïse Bombito | Ismaël Koné | Tajon Buchanan | Jonathan David |
| 2nd Choice | Maxime Crépeau | Alistair Johnston | Derek Cornelius | Stephen Eustáquio | Ali Ahmed | Tani Oluwaseyi |
| 3rd Choice | Owen Goodman | Niko Sigur | Alfie Jones | Nathan Saliba | Liam Millar | Cyle Larin |
| 4th Choice | n/a | Richie Laryea | Luc De Fougerolles | Mathieu Choiniere | Marcelo Flores | Daniel Jebbison |
| 5th Choice | n/a | n/a | Joel Waterman | Jonathan Osorio | Jacob Shaffelburg | n/a |
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