Soccer in Canada | Canada Hosting the 2026 World Cup

[EnvisionSaintJohn]

Originally Posted by elly63

Why make it more like Europe, make it more like Canada. Why copy something and be behind from the get go? It's also a Canadian developmental league not an old age home for foreign has beens.

The ideal setup is underage players like Grady McDonnell and Shola Jimoh, mixed with MLS level players and Canadians returning from Europe for their final seasons.

Because Europe is the centre of the football universe. ⚽️

But, I guess I should have said "more like the rest of the world" and less like the MLS, which even post Messi, much of the soccer world sees as a joke of a league.

Canada has made leaps and bounds in soccer, and I think Team Canada will do better at the World Cup than Team USA... just like we did at the Copa.

[elly63]

Originally Posted by EnvisionSaintJohn

But, I guess I should have said "more like the rest of the world" and less like the MLS, which even post Messi, much of the soccer world sees as a joke of a league.

That's not true, it's not a Big Five league but it's not a bad league either. Far be it for me to defend ANYTHING American at this time

[EnvisionSaintJohn]

Originally Posted by elly63

That's not true, it's not a Big Five league but it's not a bad league either. Far be it for me to defend ANYTHING American at this time

Have you talked to many soccer fans from around the world? Because most of them find the MLS and it’s uniquely American way of doing things to be a joke.

I’m simply saying the Canadian Premier League should strive to be less like the MLS and more like other leagues from around the world.

[elly63]

Originally Posted by EnvisionSaintJohn

Have you talked to many soccer fans from around the world? Because most of them find the MLS and it’s uniquely American way of doing things to be a joke.

I’m simply saying the Canadian Premier League should strive to be less like the MLS and more like other leagues from around the world.

Marv Levy said something like "if you listen to the fans you'll soon be sitting with them"

MLS transfers many players to the Big Five Leagues including a pile of Canadians to France and now La Liga in Spain so there is an equivalency there to a degree.

I'm sure a Scottish fan will say the SPL is a great league.

Euro snobs are likely the last source I would listen to as they've hindered Canadian soccer development for decades, so eff them

[EnvisionSaintJohn]

Originally Posted by elly63

Marv Levy said something like "if you listen to the fans you'll soon be sitting with them"

MLS transfers many players to the Big Five Leagues including a pile of Canadians to France and now La Liga in Spain so there is an equivalency there to a degree.

I'm sure a Scottish fan will say the SPL is a great league.

Euro snobs are likely the last source I would listen to as they've hindered Canadian soccer development for decades, so eff them

Scottish fans might say the SPL is a great league, but it's clearly not. Celtic won the European Cup in 1967... but they'll never win it again due to the financial constraints of being a team in the SPL. Anyways, that's off topic.

I'm not sure what you're even arguing at this point... I'm literally just saying the Canadian Premier should try to distance itself from the MLS format as much as possible, since most of the soccer world thinks the MLS is a goofy league with a nonsense Americanized format... but especially because of all this BS with Trump and the US at the moment.

Furthermore, I think it would be ideal if Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver's MLS franchises could be sold and relocated to markets in the US. Which would pave the way for all three of our biggest cities to have teams in the Canadian Premier League.

Look at the the rest of the soccer world, there's very few cases where a country's three largest cities compete in another country's national league, like how Toronto, Vancouver, and Montreal have teams competing in the American MLS.

It would be good for the long term development of soccer in Canada for our biggest city's to leave the American MLS and join the Canadian Premier League.

[elly63]

Originally Posted by EnvisionSaintJohn

It would be good for the long term development of soccer in Canada for our biggest city's to leave the American MLS and join the Canadian Premier League.

So the MLS, which has a far higher calibre of play and payscale than the CPL, and also graduates players to big clubs in Europe should let the Canadian teams go or they should leave, You're letting patriotism get ahead of logic because of your ridiculous Euro snobbery which I said before has held back Canadian soccer for decades.

I'm sure Toronto would love to be in the CPL instead of an American league.

[craner]

A couple weeks late posting this - but still historic:

Cavalry FC makes history with comeback victory against Mexico's Pumas UNAM
http://https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/cavalryfc-soccer-calgary-mexico-pumas-concacaf-1.7453169

Unfortunately Cavalry lost the return leg in Mexico City 2-0.

[elly63]

Makes me wonder if Sirois will be off to bigger and better things

[elly63]

Originally Posted by EnvisionSaintJohn

Look at the the rest of the soccer world, there's very few cases where a country's three largest cities compete in another country's national league

Cardiff, Swansea, Newport, Wrexham

[elly63]

More good news for Canadian soccer



As an aside, Daniel's father Patrick was a Brandon Bobcat basketball legend back when they were a top power in Canadian college basketball. Not sure what happened to the other kid



Patrick is seen here in a high school photo with another kid who didn't do too badly either. Keith Pelley is the former President of TSN, The Argos, The PGA European Golf Tour, CEO of Rogers Media and now President and CEO of MLSE

[elly63]

Promise David makes his pledge to Canada, continuing his rapid ascent
Joshua Kloke nytimes.com/athletic February 21, 2025

On Thursday, Promise David stepped into Amsterdam’s famed Johan Cruyff Arena for the first time and for just his second UEFA Europa League contest. But the 23-year-old, Brampton-born David showed no nerves. He did what he has done throughout the entire season: found the back of the net. His 28th-minute penalty kick drew his Belgian club Union Saint-Gilloise level with Ajax in the knockout phase playoffs.

His rise seemingly out of nowhere has resulted in 13 goals in 27 appearances for Union across all competitions this season. This comes after he bagged 29 goals in 44 appearances for Estonian club Nõmme Kalju.

David’s combination of size (he stands 6-foot-4), power and ability not to play with his back to goal but to run at defenders have made him a lethal no. 9 in Estonia and now Belgium.

“If you asked any defender that David played against, they were just scared. They would tell me they could not manage him,” Nõmme Kalju president Kuno Tehva said.

But David – or Tobi, as he prefers to be known, owing to his middle name Oluwatobi – has also remained largely an unknown among the Canadian soccer public.

That is about to change.

Yet David has decided on Canada for his future, and men’s national team coach Jesse Marsch has made the same choice.

David will soon be named to Canada’s provisional Nations League Finals roster. The lighthearted, endearing but colossally strong striker is currently in the process of undergoing his one-time FIFA switch from Nigeria to Canada. It is expected then that David will also be named to Canada’s final roster for the crucial March window. Canada plays Mexico in the semifinals, with the winner facing either the U.S. or Panama in the final at SoFi Stadium outside Los Angeles.

“Canadian football raised me,” David said. “So I feel like I owe it back to Canada to perform for them. Playing for Nigeria was great, but it was just an opportunity. I like what (Jesse Marsch) has done with the team. You see the rapid increase. I think being a part of that history is an opportunity I should not pass up.”

His addition gives Canada the kind of depth Marsch has coveted at forward, and it is also a result of David’s remarkable self-belief.

“There are a lot of serious players who have professional mindsets and they work hard,” Tehva said. “But sometimes these players put too much pressure on themselves. (David) is different. His approach to life and football seemed at first to be a little bit unprofessional, but now that we know him, he has a personality where he’s flying through life in his own little unique, easy way and he doesn’t put too much pressure on himself. … His physical abilities, athleticism and personality make him a perfect profile for the English Premier League.”

Before any other move however, David will continue to attack games in Belgium and soon, with Canada.

“Promise finds ways to become indispensable,” Vadori said. “He’s so physically imposing that teams are just going to have to worry about him. And that’s matched with a work ethic that has taken him towards the highest levels of Europe and will keep him there.”

The opportunity to play in the 2026 World Cup in Canada proved to be the deciding factor in David’s decision to play for Marsch’s squad instead of Nigeria. Though the Nigerian national team was interested in adding David, their recent decline in results – Nigeria are winless in their first four 2026 World Cup qualifiers – likely also swayed David’s decision.

Even when he played for Nigeria’s Under-23 team in 2022, he told those close to him: “Playing for Canada is still the goal.”

Canada began scouting David in earnest throughout this season. After multiple phone conversations, Marsch met David in Belgium last week. Canada’s coach explained where he sees David fitting in his system and what his opportunities could look like. He also explained where David will need to improve, including his pressing work.

“(Marsch) was very serious about where he wants to take the national team to. It inspired me to want to be part of it,” David said.

“He believes wholeheartedly that he could be one of the best strikers in the world,” Nsien said. “He wholeheartedly believes that he can score goals against anyone. I’ve had a lot of former players message me about his success. Like, ‘Oh, that’s the same Promise that was with us? The strides he’s taken in the last three years have been astronomical.’”

But Marsch also requires his forwards to press intelligently off the ball. Cyle Larin, for one, has made noticeable improvement with his defensive work rate under Marsch. David knows his defensive acumen and pressing ability need improvement. But those who know him insist David should be able to adapt.

But March will provide the first opportunity for David to prove himself. His goal is to make the 2026 World Cup squad. And if his track record is any indication, he has a strong chance of proving plenty of people wrong and scoring his way into the conversation.

“Mentally, I’ve been wanting to be part of that group and training to be part of that group,” David said. “All I’ve wanted to do is play for Canada.”

[elly63]

Canada Soccer’s Men’s National Team Preliminary Squad for 2025 Concacaf Nations League Finals
canadasoccer.com February 24, 2025

60-man roster announced; 23-man final roster announcement date soon

Canada Soccer have announced their Men’s National Team’s preliminary squad for the 2025 Concacaf Nations League Finals following the publishing of the 60-man rosters by Concacaf.

Concacaf’s submission deadline for the 23-man final rosters is 10 March 2025, and Canada Soccer will communicate its final squad announcement date in the coming weeks.

60-Man 2025 CNL Finals Preliminary Roster

Adekugbe, Sam / Vancouver Whitecaps FC
Afrifa, Stephen / Sporting Kansas City
Akinpelu, Promise / Royale Union Saint-Gilloise
Ali-Gayapersad, Andre / CF Damm
Ahmed, Ali / Vancouver Whitecaps FC
Archange, Moise Clovis / Orlando City Academy
Bair, Theo / AJ Auxerre
Bassong, Zorhan / Sporting Kansas City
Bombito, Moïse / OGC Nice
Brault-Guillard, Zachary / FC Lugano
Brym, Charles-Andreas / Almere City FC
Buchanan, Tajon / Villarreal CF
Choinière, Mathieu / Grasshopper Club Zurich
Corbeanu, Theodor / Toronto FC
Cornelius, Derek / Olympique de Marseille
Crépeau, Maxime / Portland Timbers FC
David, Jonathan / LOSC Lille
Davies, Alphonso / FC Bayern Munich
De Fougerolles, Luc / Fulham FC Academy
Edwards, Raheem / New York Red Bulls
Eustáquio, Stephen / FC Porto
Hiebert, Kyle / St. Louis CITY SC
Hoilett, Junior / Hibernian FC
Ivanisevic, Jovan / Bologna FC 1909 U20
Jebbison, Daniel / Bournemouth FC
Jimoh, Shola / York United FC
Johnston, Alistair / Celtic FC
Kaye, Mark-Anthony / San Jose Earthquakes
Kennedy, Scott / K.A.S. Eupen
Kerr, Deandre / Toronto FC
Knight-Lebel, Jamie / Crewe Alexandra
Koné, Ismaël / Stade Rennais FC
Larin, Cyle / RCD Mallorca
Laryea, Richie / Toronto FC
López, Santiago / Pumas UNAM
MacNaugton, Lukas / D.C. United
Marshall-Rutty, Jakheele / CF Montréal
McGill, Thomas / MK Dons FC
McGraw, Zac / Portland Timbers FC
Michel, Dieu-Merci / Vitória de Guimarães
Miller, Kamal / Portland Timbers FC
Nelson, Jayden / Vancouver Whitecaps FC
Oluwaseyi, Tani / Minnesota United FC
Osorio, Jonathan / Toronto FC
Pantemis, James / Portland Timbers FC
Paton, Harry / Motherwell FC
Piette, Samuel / CF Montréal
Poku, Kwasi / R.W.D. Molenbeek
Priso, Ralph / Vancouver Whitecaps FC
Russell-Rowe, Jacen / Columbus Crew
Saliba, Nathan / CF Montréal
Shaffelburg, Jacob / Nashville SC
Sigur, Niko / HNK Hajduk Split
Sirois, Jonathan / CF Montréal
Smith, Justin / RCD Espanyol
St. Clair, Dayne / Minnesota United FC
Stewart-Baynes, Kimani / Colorado Rapids
Świderski, Grégoire / Deportivo Alavés B
Thompson, Kosi / Toronto FC
Waterman, Joel / CF Montréal

[elly63]

Montréal set to host massive CANMNT matches ahead of FIFA World Cup 26
Montréalers will help rally the nation as part of the official CANMNT sendoff in June 2026
canadasoccer.com March 6, 2025

Canada Soccer’s Men’s National Team (CANMNT) is returning to Montréal. Canada Soccer have announced that at least two Men’s National Team Friendlies will be hosted in Montréal in the leadup to FIFA World Cup 26.

On October 10, 2025, Canada will play an international friendly at Stade Saputo against an opponent that will be confirmed following the results of upcoming out-of-region FIFA World Cup 26 qualifying matches. Tickets for the October 10 match will go on sale following confirmation of the opponent. ​

Canada Soccer is also excited to announce that Montréal will serve as the host city for CANMNT’s final preparations for the FIFA World Cup 26. These preparations will culminate in a final sendoff match at Stade Saputo immediately prior to FIFA World Cup 26, in early June of 2026. Canada’s opponent for the final sendoff match will also be confirmed by the results of FIFA World Cup 26™ qualifying and the tournament draw.

“Our experience in Montréal last October was incredible. The energy of the fans, the passion in the city, and the engagement we saw from the local soccer community were all top-class. Hosting the final send off at Stade Saputo will be a huge part of our preparation for the World Cup, and I know our players will be excited to be back in Montréal in a competitive environment again.” - Jesse Marsch, MLS Canada Head Coach of the Men’s National Team

The Men’s National Team made meaningful connections with fans and communities in and around Montréal last Fall, where players and staff visited several youth clubs in the region. In addition, an open training session was held at Stade Saputo where fans received a unique opportunity to see their heroes up close, with an engaging and intense training session followed by autograph signing and photos after training. More than 1,000 fans were in attendance for the weekday gathering.

In the coming weeks, more CANMNT news will be announced including further details for the Men’s National Team’s June, October, and November 2025 windows.

[elly63]

[elly63]

CANMNT squad announced for 2025 Concacaf Nations League Finals
23 player squad announced; CANMNT looking to win first trophy since 2000
canadasoccer.com March 12, 2025

Canada Soccer has announced the selection of 23 players who will represent Canada in the 2025 Concacaf Nations League Finals.

Canada will begin camp in Los Angeles before kickoff against Mexico on Thursday March 20 at 22:30 ET / 19:30 PT at SoFi Stadium. The team will then play in the Concacaf Nations League Final or Third Place Match on March 23 at SoFi Stadium.

“We’re ready for another big challenge for this group heading into a competitive tournament. The depth in the squad has improved significantly leaving us some tough roster decisions. However, we know that this group of players will give us an outstanding opportunity to compete for the trophy.”
– Jesse Marsch, MLS Canada Head Coach of the Men’s National Team

The Nations League Finals marks the official start to the 2025 season for CANMNT. Canada Soccer have recently announced September 2025 Friendlies in Romania and Wales, as well as an October 2025 Friendly in Montréal against a to be determined opponent based on out of region FIFA World Cup 26 qualifiers. Canada Soccer will be announcing further details for the Men’s National Team’s June, October, and November 2025 windows in the coming weeks.

Concacaf Nations League Finals Format

The Nations League Finals will be contested by the four winners of the League A quarter-final round. Canada defeated Suriname over two legs in the quarterfinals back in November 2024, winning 4:0 on aggregate following a dominant 3:0 win at BMO Field in Toronto.

Canada will be joined by USA, Mexico and Panama in the semifinals. Both semi-final matches will be played as double-headers at SoFi Stadium on March 20, with USA taking on Panama at 19:00 ET / 16:00 PT followed by Canada versus Mexico at 22:30 ET / 19:30 PT. The winners of the semifinals will take part in the Final and the losers in the Third-Place match on March 23.

Canada placed fifth (‘23-’24), second (‘22-’23) and fifth (‘19-’20) in the three previous editions of the Concacaf Nations League.

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. 

Ticket Information

Concacaf Nations League Finals tickets are available to the public via Concacaf’s website. Tickets for each matchday include both Nations League matches on the given day.

CANMNT Squad

Goalkeepers

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

Defenders

Moïse Bombito - OGC Nice
Derek Cornelius - Olympique de Marseille
Alphonso Davies - Bayern Munich
Alistair Johnston - Celtic FC
Jamie Knight-Lebel - Crewe Alexandra (on loan - Bristol City)
Richie Laryea - Toronto FC
Joel Waterman - CF Montréal

Midfielders

Ali Ahmed - Vancouver Whitecaps FC
Tajon Buchanan - Villareal (on loan from Inter Milan)
Mathieu Choinière - Grasshopper Zurich
Stephen Eustáquio - FC Porto
Ismaël Koné - Stade Rennais (on loan from Olympique de Marseille)
Jonathan Osorio - Toronto FC
Jacob Shaffelburg - Nashville SC
Niko Sigur - Hadjuk Split

Forwards

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

[Nite]

Toronto Theme x FIFA World Cup 26
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iXb12VPIsfw

Vancouver Theme x FIFA World Cup 26
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TzxMJX0HCaU

[elly63]

Canada vs Mexico 10:30 PM (TSN 5)

Panama shocks US 1-0 in the final minute

Canal? What canal?

[Nite]

Originally Posted by elly63

Canada vs Mexico 10:30 PM (TSN 5)

Panama shocks US 1-0 in the final minute

Canal? What canal?

and to finish things off, Canada just beat the USA 2-1 in the third place game.
Panama and Canada with the 1-2 punch on the US

[AuxTown]

Not ideal that we didn't make the final but that was a great win. The sky is falling in soccerland south of the border...and I couldn't be happier.

This might move us up a spot in the world rankings as FIFA still has the US at 16th (and dropping).

[elly63]

Very sad that Panama was awarded a penalty kick on almost the exact same play where Canada should have had a penalty called against Mexico and the ref didn't even have VAR look at it.