New Canada faces get chance to impress as Jesse Marsch reshuffles roster for June friendlies
Joshua Kloke nytimes.com/athletic May 21, 2025
Jesse Marsch has changed the look of his Canada squad for the upcoming international window with friendlies against Ukraine and Côte D’Ivoire, largely out of necessity, and is allowing some new faces a chance to prove themselves.
The absences of Alphonso Davies and Moise Bombito due to injury in particular will provide new starting opportunities for emerging players, and allow Marsch to consider different looks for the team with the 2026 World Cup nearly one year away.
And while many of Canada’s top European-based players were called into the June squad — including Jonathan David, Stephen Eustaquio and Tajon Buchanan — this squad could also provide the backbone of the Gold Cup team that will compete for Canada’s last trophy before 2026 as well. Multiple other European-based young players who might not typically play in a Gold Cup could use the June window and the tournament to make themselves indispensable for selection in 2026.
Canada will begin its training camp by visiting Halifax for the first time. An open training session and community initiatives will be included in the team’s visit before moving to Toronto for its two friendly matches.
Injuries change Canada’s roster
There are a number of first-choice players for Marsch who are missing the June international window.
Alphonso Davies continues to recovery after his ACL tear suffered at the Nations League Finals in March.
First choice centre-back Moise Bombito will soon have wrist surgery and will be out for four weeks. Bombito will not be available at this summer’s Gold Cup.
Jonathan Osorio partially dislocated his shoulder during an April 30 match against CF Montreal.
Though not confirmed, Alistair Johnston will likely take the summer to rest after an exhaustive season at Celtic. Johnston has played a combined 48 matches so far this season across all competitions, up from 42 last season. Johnston told The Athletic after the Nations League Finals that his status for the summer with Canada was still to be determined.
Marsch is without a number of key players, including Davies
The injuries will allow Marsch to look at new and up-and-coming players who are looking to cement their places in the 2026 World Cup roster. Who Marsch tips to fill in for Bombito could reveal plenty about who his optimal choice off the bench at centre back will be come 2026.
Waterman has established himself as a trusted player in training sessions and off the pitch for Canada since Marsch took over in 2024, but has yet to see consistent playing time. Waterman has started all but three MLS games for Montreal this season and is growing into more of a leadership role. He will be in line for just his fourth start for Canada.
Jamie Knight-Lebel continues to impress Marsch as well. The 20-year-old has only made one appearance for Canada and has served largely as a player used in training sessions, but Marsch has given plenty of feedback to the physical defender on how better to close down on opponents in tight spaces. He could be on deck for more minutes this window as well as Waterman.
Niko Sigur will be in line for his first starts for Canada. Marsch continues to rave about the player’s intelligence behind closed doors. Marsch didn’t hesitate to call on the 21-year-old to replace Davies in March.
After bouncing from Toronto FC to clubs in Norway and Germany in the span of four years, 22-year-old Jayden Nelson has finally found his footing and is reaching his potential with the Vancouver Whitecaps this season. Nelson has just two appearances for Canada since 2020, but his pace and daring play could help boost his stock with Marsch.
Marsch has previously told The Athletic that he has high expectations for Nathan Saliba and pegged him as a breakout candidate for 2025. Saliba’s qualities on the ball have already garnered interest from Europe and he projects as a possible candidate to crack the 2026 squad.
Finally, up front: there were no changes from the March window in the forwards called into Canada’s squad. The picture of who Marsch will lean on to score in 2026 is starting to become clearer. Keep and eye on who earns more time between Promise David and Daniel Jebbison.
Even though Cyle Larin scored his latest La Liga goal in his last appearance for Mallorca, but one of David and Jebbison – both in just their second Canada camp – could be coming for Cyle Larin’s starting spot in 2026.
Who is Biancheri?
The most interesting name on Canada’s squad list is one fans have never seen before: 18-year-old Manchester United Under-18 centre-forward Gabriele Biancheri. Marsch has invited Biancheri into the squad as a training player, meaning he will not play in any of the games.
There’s loads of intrigue around Biancheri. Any time a player associated with a club of Manchester United’s size, he’s bound to draw attention. And Biancheri has 21 goals in 35 appearances this season, which means he can clearly find the back of the net. Canada’s assistant coach Ewan Sharp has previously worked at Manchester United. Sharp has a strong eye for talent and likely kept tabs on Biancheri.
Biancheri’s mother is Canadian, explaining his eligibility to be called into Canada’s squad. Biancheri is Welsh and has previously scored loads for Wales Under-19 squad. He also accepted a call-up into Wales’ 29-player senior team camp this month. Biancheri has Italian citizenship as well through his father. But could Canada’s guarantee of 2026 World Cup matches sway Biancheri to look more closely at possibly joining Marsch’s squad?
Canada could very well like his intelligence in the box, his link-up play and how he has a different profile than other national team forwards.Biancheri has 21 goals in 35 appearances for Unied’s Under-18s this season
“He’s a dynamic player. He’s very good around the goal. He’s technically gifted,” Marsch said after Wednesday’s announcement. “You could see he’s an intelligent player. He’s a version of Jonathan David. He’s not exactly the same player, but he’s a striker that can play up on the back line, but also can is good at coming underneath and connecting plays and being part of the build up phase.”
“I talked to him about how he think he would fit into (Canada’s squad) and how I think he would benefit by the experience of being with us. I spoke with his father and his mother at length and we talked about the overall opportunity of what it would mean to to play for the Canadian national team.
“In all these situations, especially with a player that’s still young, like (Biancheri), I think it’s really important that the family feels the connection to Canada.”
Big picture, Marsch continues to lay the groundwork on dual nationals to join Canada and bolster his squad ahead of 2026.
“There are other discussions that have been had, visits that have been had, I’d say that a lot of them have gone really well,” Marsch said earlier this week on the impact of his dual nationals search.
“It’s a case-by-case basis, (looking at) each person’s family history and career trajectory and what it would mean to be part of the Canadian national team versus another national team. It all means something different. I think one of the keys is this team is really unified and really strong together, and they’re very proud to represent Canada and what it means to be Canadian and what it means to play for the Canadian national team. And so for me, on all of these discussions that’s the first line: What does this mean to you? How do you feel about playing for Canada? How do you feel about representing the nation and and the flag? I know it as a foreigner that it’s meant a lot to me, and the responsibility I feel to make sure that in all ways, that everything we do is exactly a perfect representation of what that means to be Canadian, especially in the current political climate.”
How Biancheri adapts to Marsch’s training demands could be fascinating. Biancheri might not be the quickest player but he’s still an excellent finisher and has evident technical qualities. He’s certainly worth keeping an eye on throughout June.
Just two goalkeepers
Yes, Jonathan Sirois has been called into Canada’s squad as a training player, but: Marsch calling just two goalkeepers to play in the upcoming matches is a smart move. He knows it’s down to just two goalkeepers who will start for Canada in 2026.
It wouldn’t be a surprise for Maxime Crepeau and Dayne St. Clair to split the two friendly matches. Marsch wants a healthy competition between the two. Allowing these two to be the sole focus between the sticks in camp will only heighten that competition.
Canada squad in full
Goalkeepers: Maxime Crepeau (Portland Timbers), Dayne St. Clair (Minnesota United)
Defenders: Sam Adekugbe (Vancouver Whitecaps), Zorhan Bassong (Sporting Kansas City), Derek Cornelius (Olympic Marseille), Luc de Fougerolles (Fulham), Jamie Knight-Lebel (Crewe Alexandra), Richie Laryea (Toronto), Joel Waterman (Montreal).
Midfielders: Ali Ahmed (Vancouver Whitecaps), Tajon Buchanan (Villareal CF), Mathieu Choiniere (Grasshopper), Stephen Eustaquio (Porto), Ismael Kone (Rennes), Jayden Nelson (Vancouver Whitecaps), Nathan Saliba (CF Montreal), Jacob Shaffelburg (Nashville), Niko Sigur (Hadjuk Split).
Forwards: Jonathan David (Lille), Promise David (Union Saint-Gilloise), Daniel Jebbison (AFC Bournemouth), Cyle Larin (Mallorca), Tani Oluwaseyi (Minnesota United).
Training players: Gabriele Biancheri (Manchester United Academy), Jonathan Sirois (CF Montréal)
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