Soccer in Canada | Canada Hosting the 2026 World Cup

[elly63]

[elly63]

Originally Posted by elly63

Looks like Jonathan David has a verbal agreement with Serie A's Napoli. He will join up with Kevin De Bruyne there.

The saga continues, apparently Juventus are now in the picture and Napoli may be less interested. Stay tuned.

[elly63]

Originally Posted by elly63

Rumours have him moving on to teams such as Brighton and Leeds in the EPL and the newly promoted Ligue 1 team Paris FC. He has also been touted to replace Jonathan David at Lille.

This looks to have some legs according to latest rumours

[elly63]

Good news

Looks like Anderlecht will be getting a Canadian midfielder, but it's not Nico Sigur (see above)...yet? Nathan Saliba to Europe rumours have been around a little while.

[jc_yyc_ca]

Nice to see so many Canadians progressing in the Euro leagues. Certainly a big change from the 1986 world cup team.

[elly63]

CANMNT squad announced for 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup
Squad of 26 revealed as CANMNT chases first trophy since 2000
canadasoccer.com June 5, 2025

Canada Soccer has announced the selection of 26 players who will represent Canada in the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup.

Canada is currently in camp preparing for the inaugural Canadian Shield, where they will face off against Ukraine on 7 June and Côte D’Ivoire on 10 June at BMO Field in Toronto.

“We’re excited to be bringing a very strong squad to the upcoming Gold Cup. We’re very confident in the group and are looking forward to challenging for the title.”
– Jesse Marsch, MLS Canada Head Coach of the Men’s National Team

Canada has been drawn into Group B for the Gold Cup, where they will face Honduras, El Salvador, and Curaçao in the Group Stage of the region’s premier international tournament. Canada’s competition will begin on 17 June as they take on Honduras at Vancouver’s BC Place before traveling to Houston for matches against Curaçao on 21 June and El Salvador on 24 June. The Group B winner and runner-up will advance to the knockout stage.

Broadcast Information

The Concacaf Nations League Finals 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 Squad

Goalkeepers
Maxime Crépeau Portland Timbers
Tom McGill Brighton & Hove Albion
Dayne St. Clair Minnesota United FC

Defenders
Sam Adekugbe Vancouver Whitecaps FC
Derek Cornelius Olympique de Marseille
Luc De Fougerolles Fulham FC
Jamie Knight-Lebel Bristol City FC
Richie Laryea Toronto FC
Alistair Johnston Celtic FC
Kamal Miller Portland Timbers
Niko Sigur Hadjuk Split
Joel Waterman CF Montréal

Midfielders
Ali Ahmed Vancouver Whitecaps FC
Tajon Buchanan Villarreal CF (on loan Inter Milan)
Mathieu Choinière Grasshopper Zurich
Stephen Eustáquio FC Porto
Ismaël Koné Stade Rennais (on loan Olympique de Marseille)
Jayden Nelson Vancouver Whitecaps FC
Jonathan Osorio Toronto FC
Nathan Saliba CF Montréal
Jacob Shaffelburg Nashville SC

Forwards
Jonathan David LOSC Lille
Promise David Royale Union Saint-Gilloise
Daniel Jebbison AFC Bournemouth
Cyle Larin RCD Mallorca
Tani Oluwaseyi Minnesota United FC

[elly63]

Originally Posted by jc_yyc_ca

Nice to see so many Canadians progressing in the Euro leagues. Certainly a big change from the 1986 world cup team.

By the end of the summer it's possible that five players (above) could be playing for a better club in a higher league. Looks like one may already be settled (Saliba to Anderlecht).

The Gold Cup should be relatively well scouted and perhaps to a lesser extent the Canadian Shield games vs Ukraine and Ivory Coast.

[jc_yyc_ca]

Originally Posted by elly63

By the end of the summer it's possible that five players (above) could be playing for a better club in a higher league. Looks like one may already be settled (Saliba to Anderlecht).

The Gold Cup should be relatively well scouted and perhaps to a lesser extent the Canadian Shield games vs Ukraine and Ivory Coast.

Do you know if Canada is playing any more European or South American teams before the world cup?
I feel like Copa America was arguably our best learning experience, even more than the 2022 WC.

[elly63]

Originally Posted by jc_yyc_ca

Do you know if Canada is playing any more European or South American teams before the world cup?
I feel like Copa America was arguably our best learning experience, even more than the 2022 WC.

After the games below, we should be active in all the international breaks before the WC. Teams to be named later. We will be trying to play teams similar to who we will meet in the WC (Euro/SA/Africa etc)

Canadian Shield 2025
June 7 Ukraine (Toronto)
June 10 Ivory Coast (Toronto)

Gold Cup 2025
June 17 Honduras (Group) Vancouver
June 21 Curacao (Group) Houston
June 24 El Salvador (Group) Houston
June 29 Guatemala (Quarter Final) Minneapolis
Additional games TBD

Friendlies 2025
September 5 Romania (Bucharest)
September 9 Wales (Swansea)
October 10 TBA (Montreal)
October 14 Colombia (Harrison NJ)

[elly63]

Canada (FIFA 30/ELO 26) beat Ukraine (FIFA 25/ELO 28) today 4-2 in a scoreline that was very flattering to Ukraine. Canada was dominant with the Davids scoring three times and Tajon Buchanan showing the great promise he had before his leg injury, scoring the other.

The dominant victory was somewhat spoiled when the Ukrainians were able to score in the final minutes and then got a cheap handball call and scored a PK.

Nineteen year old Luc De Fougerolles played well in defense as Canada was able to play most of its younger players including Saliba, Sigur and Knight-Lebel. Jayden Nelson and Daniel Jebbison paired well together when they were subbed in, something to keep in mind going forward.

Aside from the last five minutes, it was a very impressive win for Canada over a good opponent

[elly63]

• Video Link

[Calgarian]

Absolutely stomped Honduras yesterday, think this Canadian team could win our first Gold Cup in 25 years!

[elly63]

Originally Posted by elly63

With the game tied 1-1, Promise David comes in at 58 minutes and scores twice at 68' and 75' to lead Royale Union Saint-Gilloise over Gent 3-1 to win the Belgian League title. That is RUSG's first league title win in 90 years.

Rumours have him moving on to teams such as Brighton and Leeds in the EPL and the newly promoted Ligue 1 team Paris FC. He has also been touted to replace Jonathan David at Lille.

He has re-signed with RUSC (Royale Union Saint-Gilloise)

[Calgarian]

Poor game for Canada against Curacao, hopefully they improve against El Salvador tomorrow.

[elly63]

Originally Posted by Calgarian

Poor game for Canada against Curacao, hopefully they improve against El Salvador tomorrow.

I wish certain media pundits would realize that we aren't as good as we were against Honduras and not as bad as we were vs Curacao.

They are in no position to say we'll slaughter anybody. Potential and five bucks will get you a Tims. Our team still has lessons to learn, like breaking down a team that is bunkering, how to stand up to a team that is fouling.

It's difficult to play our attacking and pressing style in the oppressive heat of Houston which is why, before the WC, I heard Jesse say, we will be preparing in the southern US. We'll start the WC in Canada but if we advance we'll end up in the US.

I do hope we improve against El Salvador and I think we will. Again, we'll have to face the heat and opposing fans. I don't really care about winning the GC but with progressing in the tournament comes more games which we need to prepare, especially as we are still trying out "new" players.

[Calgarian]

Marsch will be back tomorrow, I imagine he will get them sorted after a really poor showing last game.

[elly63]

Canada gets a 2-0 "professional win" over a nine man El Salvador.

El Salvador was just out to foul and get the Canadians off their high energy pressing game. They were somewhat successful as they did get Canada off their game but they committed so many fouls they ended up getting two red cards.

Canada scored two and then it was just a matter of closing out the game.

Canada subbed off most of the regulars, (and De Fougerolles who had a yellow) and they controlled the ball while not really trying to force a scoring attempt.

It was kill the clock, don't do anything stupid or get hurt. Mission accomplished, now onto the knockout round.

[elly63]

Originally Posted by elly63

Friendlies 2025
September 5 Romania (Bucharest)
September 9 Wales (Swansea)
October 14 Colombia (Harrison NJ)

A new friendly added to Canada's World Cup preparation.

Also, Nathan Saliba to Anderlecht is finally confirmed and now Jonathan David is rumoured to be heading to Juventus (pending agent fees being negotiated).

Canada's quarter final knockout game in the Gold Cup will be in Minneapolis, Sunday, June 29 (4 PM Eastern) vs Guatemala

[Calgarian]

Originally Posted by elly63

Canada gets a 2-0 "professional win" over a nine man El Salvador.

El Salvador was just out to foul and get the Canadians off their high energy pressing game. They were somewhat successful as they did get Canada off their game but they committed so many fouls they ended up getting two red cards.

Canada scored two and then it was just a matter of closing out the game.

Canada subbed off most of the regulars, (and De Fougerolles who had a yellow) and they controlled the ball while not really trying to force a scoring attempt.

It was kill the clock, don't do anything stupid or get hurt. Mission accomplished, now onto the knockout round.

The ES team was playing crazy dirty, then they would harass the Canadian player they just injured. The fact that some of their coaching staff got red carded too is quite telling.

[elly63]

Originally Posted by Calgarian

The ES team was playing crazy dirty, then they would harass the Canadian player they just injured. The fact that some of their coaching staff got red carded too is quite telling.

These are "good" games for Canada. They have to be better at breaking down opponents and disciplined when they are being goaded by a lesser opponent.

We play better when in the underdog role or when quality teams near our level actually come to play but lessons like this are still to be perfected.

This is when you have to bury your chances when you get them and Canada had some chances before they scored. Otherwise, you're giving a lesser opponent a chance to stay in the game and El Salvador had a few chances and had they scored they could have dictated the game with smarter delay tactics.

But, woulda, coulda, shoulda, the fact remains, good teams win these types of games and we won.