Soccer in Canada | Canada Hosting the 2026 World Cup

[elly63]

Originally Posted by mousquet

If you said that again, I would suspend you for racism.
All French players in France's national team were born, raised and trained in France, with French soccer knowledge.
You sound like the Argentinians claiming that all our players came from Angola.
Why did Angola never win the World Cup, then?

All French players play French football, no matter what they look like.

I said like France DID. That word was used specifically and where you find racism is beyond me but nothing surprises me at this forum and its political bent. Also sus seeing you in this thread, makes me wonder how you found it

[mousquet]

^ I'm not a leftist. I'm not going to work against or persecute you because of your political opinions. I don't care much, quite frankly.

As far as I go, I'm a Republican and I believe in meritocracy. That's the basics in my country.
Racism has nothing to do with Republicanism or meritocracy, so I don't like it at all.

And I love football. That's why I read this thread.
I want all nations good at football/soccer.

[elly63]

I certainly wasn't making any political or racist statements in my original post, I just don't believe in anybody poaching. It certainly didn't help us when other countries were stealing our players and I don't want to steal anybody else's.

[elly63]

Originally Posted by mousquet

And I love football. That's why I read this thread. I want all nations good at football/soccer.

You're sig says France so I'm curious if you are from France if you've noticed the Canadian NT having any type of profile or exposure. I just thought of JD and the others who recently went to Ligue 1 but I am more curious if anybody knows much about the NT as a whole.

Certainly today's exploits (Tajon/JD) didn't hurt the cause

[EnvisionSaintJohn]

Originally Posted by elly63

You already admitted you know nothing about Canadian soccer and football and you prove it with every post.

You don't get it is right. You don't get the reality that this is North America and not Europe. Why would soccer emulate a model that is foreign to us and our history. If you want to BS and say we are copying an American model go ahead but at any other time in history but the present Anti Americanism is high school stuff. We blame them for our inadequacy. Thankfully the days of the Canadian inferiority complex are pretty much over.

I don't want to be like Europe and I sure as hell don't want to be like the US either. Time to stand on our own two feet, there's lots of young talent here to be developed, we don't need to be scumbags and poach poor countries like France did. There's a great European model.

I think the only thing being proved here is that you are extremely stubborn, set in your ways, and not open to new ideas.

The European model and South American models for soccer are the models we should be aspiring to emulate and compete with here in Canada.

Instead of choosing to actually help inform me on how CPL teams scout prospects in foreign countries, which you clearly know a lot more about than the average Canadian, you've once again decided to chastise me and ridicule my "lack of knowledge" regarding of Canadian sports.

As for your claim that scouting prospects from poor countries to play for CPL clubs would be "scummy" or amounts to "poaching", I couldn't disagree more! I wouldn't call scouting prospects from developing countries as "scummy", I'd call it smart.

Again, some of Canada's BEST soccer players were born in African countries. North and West Africa are among the most promising and up and coming regions in the world of ⚽️ 🌍... aren't they?

Moreover, and most importantly, scouting prospects from talent rich North African and West African countries to come play for Canadian Premier League clubs does NOT mean "poaching" them to play for the Canadian national team.



Let's continue to use "Elly Logic" for a moment... I guess Lionel Messi was "poached" by Futbol Club Barcelona of Spain's La Liga? Yet, last time I checked, Lionel Messi won for the World Cup for Argentina, not Spain!

You can try and make this about "poaching" and "poor countries" all you want, but I'm only talking about two things here: talent and opportunity.

Just for once, it would be nice for you to consider a perspective other than your own, Elly... you might actually learn something.

[EnvisionSaintJohn]

Originally Posted by mousquet

And I love football. That's why I read this thread.
I want all nations good at football/soccer.

Same, and that's the only reason I'm wondering if Canadian Soccer Clubs scout prospects from rapidly improving footballing regions like North and West Africa. As we certainly know that European clubs are doing just that. Sure, Europe is a lot closer to Africa and the European clubs have a lot more resources, but I still think there's a lot of opportunity for Canadian clubs to recruit prospects from outside of Canada!

I'm much more of a basketball guy myself, and over the past few years, there's been quite a noticeable uptick in players from African countries competing in the top level of college basketball (NCAA Div I). I've never once heard this called "poaching" or "scummy" and not sure why it would be any different for Canadian soccer teams.

I appreciate your interest in Canadian and global football, mousquet!

I hope I can live long enough to see the day when Canada has a decent chance at beating France on the football pitch, or compete for the World Cup! ⚽️ 🏟 (we have at least held France to a draw once! )

[elly63]

Originally Posted by EnvisionSaintJohn

Just for once, it would be nice for you to consider a perspective other than your own, Elly... you might actually learn something.

Just for once it would be nice if you had an actual informed opinion instead of the unrealistic pro Euro gibberish that you inject here which is some sort of anti American shot at the same time.

Do you honestly expect the three big MLS teams to give up their supposed valuations willingly? Give your head a shake.

[EnvisionSaintJohn]

Originally Posted by elly63

Just for once it would be nice if you had an actual informed opinion instead of the unrealistic pro Euro gibberish that you inject here which is some sort of anti American shot at the same time.

Do you honestly expect the three big MLS teams to give up their supposed valuations willingly? Give your head a shake.

Give up their valuations? I suggested they sell the franchises for billions, while keeping the naming/ branding rights for the big 3 team to enter the CPL, unchanged.

Also, lol, how you just completely ignored the example of Messi playing for the Argentine national team despite being "poached" by a Spanish league team when he was just 13 years old.

Why couldn't CPL teams look to do something similar by scouting and signing prospects from West Africa, North Africa, Latin America? Getting signed by a CPL team, or even getting Canadian citizenship would not mean they have to give up playing for their home country's national team.

[elly63]

Originally Posted by EnvisionSaintJohn

Why couldn't CPL teams look to do something similar by scouting and signing prospects from West Africa, North Africa, Latin America? Getting signed by a CPL team, or even getting Canadian citizenship would not mean they have to give up playing for their home country's national team.

Why do we want to waste our limited resources to develop other other countries' players? The whole raison d'etre of the CPL is to give young Canadians a place to play and develop as there were tons of players who had nowhere to go after trialing elsewhere in the world.

The CPL develops:
Underage Canadian prospects
A second chance for players returning from unsuccessful trials
A place for the journeyman player close to MLS level
A place for veterans returning to Canada to share their experience to developing players

We have tons of those players awaiting an opportunity without stealing other countries' players. Charity begins at home.

[elly63]

With the Big Four League exploits this week of Tajon Buchanan and Jonathan David comes news of another NT player aspiring to get to that level.

For the second straight year, Ali Ahmed was seen as the most underrated player in MLS by analytics staffers. Ahmed is on one of the most team-friendly contracts for a non-homegrown player in MLS, making only $150k this season with an option for 2026. His 0.08 g+/96 compared to average is among the top 10 wingers this year.

This has to make him an attractive option for transfer.

[jonny24]

Originally Posted by EnvisionSaintJohn

I'm much more of a basketball guy myself, and over the past few years, there's been quite a noticeable uptick in players from African countries competing in the top level of college basketball (NCAA Div I). I've never once heard this called "poaching" or "scummy" and not sure why it would be any different for Canadian soccer teams.

I don't follow soccer much, but the same concept is very prevalent in rugby, including calling it "poaching". Loads of players from Oceania end up in Europe where they can qualify for the national teams after X years (used to be 3, recently upped to 5 to address the issue).

[elly63]

Originally Posted by elly63

Add Turkey's Trabzonspor (with Cyle Larin's former coach at Besiktas) to the Cyle Larin list. Spain's Valencia and Celta Vigo are also interested in the Mallorca forward.

Trabzonspor is apparently preparing to make an offer to FC Porto for Stephen Eustáquio.

Add PSV Eindhoven to the Larin list

[elly63]

CANMNT Squad announced for Friendlies against Romania and Wales in the September FIFA Window
Canada announces squad for two high profile European fixtures
canadasoccer.com August 26, 2025

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 September 5 at Arena Națională in Bucharest, followed by a match against Wales (FIFA rank #31) on Tuesday September 9 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 October 10 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 October 14 at Sports Illustrated Stadium in Harrison, New Jersey.

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 Squad

Goalkeepers
Maxime Crépeau Portland Timbers
Jayden Hibbert Atlanta United
Dayne St. Clair Minnesota United FC

Defenders
Zorhan Bassong Sporting Kansas City
Derek Cornelius Olympique de Marseille
Luc de Fougerolles FCV Dender EH (on loan Fulham FC)
Jamie Knight-Lebel Bristol City FC
Richie Laryea Toronto FC
Jahkeele Marshall-Rutty Charlotte FC (on loan CF Montréal)
Niko Sigur Hadjuk Split
Joel Waterman Chicago Fire

Midfielders
Ali Ahmed Vancouver Whitecaps FC
Tajon Buchanan Villarreal CF
Mathieu Choinière LAFC (on loan Grasshopper Zurich)
Stephen Eustáquio FC Porto
Junior Hoilett Hibernian FC
Ismaël Koné US Sassuolo Calcio (on loan Olympique de Marseille)
Jayden Nelson Vancouver Whitecaps FC
Nathan Saliba RSC Anderlecht
Jacob Shaffelburg Nashville SC

Forwards
Jonathan David Juventus FC
Promise David Royale Union Saint-Gilloise
Cyle Larin RCD Mallorca
Tani Oluwaseyi Minnesota United FC/Villarreal

[elly63]

Looks like Split's Niko Sigur is getting ready to move.

There's probably never been a time when so many Canadian players have made such big moves. Stay tuned

[elly63]

Originally Posted by elly63

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

Possible game against Paraguay in November?

[elly63]

[elly63]

[elly63]

It's official, it's Tani Time at Villarreal

[elly63]

Apparently Serie A's Cremonese are attempting to muscle in on Rangers to grab Derek Cornelius from Olympique de Marseille (loan to buy). Pray this goes through

[elly63]

Originally Posted by elly63

Apparently Serie A's Cremonese are attempting to muscle in on Rangers to grab Derek Cornelius from Olympique de Marseille (loan to buy). Pray this goes through

Have to say I'm disappointed