On Saturday, the Canadian men’s national team named its 26-player squad for the 2024 Copa América tournament.
Under new head coach Jesse Marsch, the group includes a strong mix of star power, veteran leaders and some exciting young players who will have something to prove at the tournament.
Canada will face Lionel Messi and Argentina on Thursday, June 20 to open the tournament, before facing Peru and Chile in Group A. Here is a deeper look at the 26 players who will represent Canada.
The Starters
GK – Maxime Crépeau
Club: Portland Timbers (MLS)
Age: 30
Hometown: Candiac, Que.
At long last, the 30-year-old Crépeau looks like he will be given the opportunity to lead Canada into a major tournament. Coming off a strong performance against France, the starter’s job is his to lose at this point under Marsch.
RB – Alistair Johnston
Club: Celtic (SCO)
Age: 25
Hometown: Aurora, Ont.
After doing the double in Scotland with Celtic this season, Johnston will again bring intensity and quality to this Canadian side. While he struggled slightly at moments against the Netherlands earlier this month, he has shown enough to still be the preferred option at right-back to start the Copa América tournament.
CB – Moïse Bombito
Club: Colorado Rapids (MLS)
Age: 24
Hometown: Montréal, Que.
With speed, intensity and strong positional awareness, Bombito has burst onto the scene for Canada and earned a starting role. His lack of experience will quickly be put to the test at Copa, but he has all the attributes to be the answer at centre-back that this Canadian team has long needed.
CB – Derek Cornelius
Club: Malmö (SWE)
Age: 26
Hometown: Ajax, Ont.
Despite a couple of breakout seasons with Swedish giants Malmö, Cornelius has yet to really hit his stride with Canada. That may have changed after an outstanding June window, with strong performances against the Netherlands and France. A few more of those at Copa, and the rumoured interest from clubs at a higher level are only going to get more significant.
LB – Alphonso Davies
Club: Bayern Munich (GER)
Age: 23
Hometown: Edmonton, Alta.
Whether he wears the armband or not at Copa, Davies will be a key leader for Canada at this tournament. There will be a lot of pressure as always on the shoulders of the 23-year-old, but at his best he is the best left fullback in the world and an absolute game-changer for Canada.
RM – Tajon Buchanan
Club: Inter Milan (ITA)
Age: 25
Hometown: Brampton, Ont.
The exciting wide attacker made a high-profile move to Inter Milan this off-season and will be among Canada’s most important players at this tournament. Arguably Canada’s best player at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, Buchanan is a man for the big moments, and could prove that again at Copa.
CM – Stephen Eustáquio
Club: Porto (POR)
Age: 27
Hometown: Leamington, Ont.
Eustáquio has long been the heart of Canada’s midfield and will be relied upon to set the tempo for this group at the Copa América. He is another player who is a definite candidate to wear the captain’s armband come Thursday’s tournament opener as a key leader for this group both in performance on the pitch and character off of it.
CM – Ismaël Koné
Club: Watford (ENG)
Age: 22
Hometown: Montréal, Que.
Koné is coming off an outstanding June friendly window where he went toe-to-toe with some of the best midfielders in the game. If he can build on that at the Copa América, this could be his breakout tournament, and the catalyst for a major move to a higher level in Europe.
LM – Liam Millar
Club: FC Basel (SUI)
Age: 24
Hometown: Toronto, Ont.
After a strong season with Preston North End in the Championship, Liam Millar is looking to carve himself out a starting spot with Canada. His energetic two-way game is already fitting well in Marsch’s system, as is his chemistry and understanding with Alphonso Davies down the left.
FW – Cyle Larin
Club: Mallorca (ESP)
Age: 29
Hometown: Brampton, Ont.
Canada’s all-time leading goalscorer will again likely get the chance to lead the line to open Copa América. But with a number of young strikers starting to push him for his place, he must continue to prove that he can produce for his country in the biggest moments.
FW – Jonathan David
Club: Lille (FRA)
Age: 24
Hometown: Ottawa, Ont.
Canada’s most lethal attacker, the ‘Iceman’ Jonathan David will be crucial to the team’s success in front of goal at this tournament. With another summer of rumours around him moving to a higher level, a strong Copa América tournament would only add to his transfer value.
Off the Bench
GK – Dayne St. Clair
Club: Minnesota United (MLS)
Age: 27
Hometown: Pickering, Ont.
St. Clair will still very much have something to say in the goalkeeping conversation going forward, and was certainly not at fault for a 4-0 defeat. He will push Crépeau all camp in the hopes of earning a start at the tournament, which is certainly not out of the question.
FB – Richie Laryea
Club: Toronto FC (MLS)
Age: 29
Hometown: Toronto, Ont.
In his appearance off the bench against France earlier this month, Laryea proved that not only is he reasonably healthy, but ready to remain an impact player for this group. If his fitness is good enough, he could easily earn a start at Copa. Otherwise, he will be a crucial player off the bench, bringing energy, intensity and leadership.
CB – Kamal Miller
Club: Portland Timbers (MLS)
Age: 27
Hometown: Scarborough, Ont.
Miller was recently a locked-in starter for the national team, but with the emergence of Bombito and Cornelius he looks to be taking more of a bench role for the time being. Still, he will be a key member of this group and an important option off the bench should Canada need to see out a match.
FW – Jacob Shaffelburg
Club: Nashville SC (MLS)
Age: 24
Hometown: Port Williams, N.S.
Whenever the Nova Scotian attacker comes off the bench for Canada, it seems like he is able to make something exciting happen offensively. Having that sort of impact and boundless energy off the bench for a Marsch-led team will be a significant asset and this could be the tournament where Shaffelburg establishes himself as a national team regular.
FW – Theo Bair
Club: Motherwell (SCO)
Age: 24
Hometown: Ottawa, Ont.
After a season in which he scored 15 goals and added six assists in Scotland, Bair is one of Canada’s most in-form forwards. In terms of bringing a proven poacher off the bench at Copa, there is no better option than the 24-year-old right now.
Veteran Leaders
MF – Sam Piette
Club: CF Montréal (MLS)
Age: 29
Hometown: Le Gardeur, Que.
Piette is perhaps the only true number six on this team, and therefore still serves an important role should Canada need a more defensive approach in midfield. The Québec native will also be a key leader within this group, as a long-time member of the national team.
CM – Jonathan Osorio
Club: Toronto FC (MLS)
Age: 32
Hometown: Brampton, Ont.
The long-time national team veteran, Osorio remains one of the most technically and tactically adept players on this team. While he is less likely to play a starting role at this competition, his experience and adaptability make him a strong option off the bench.
Something to prove
GK – Tom McGill
Club: Brighton and Hove Albion (ENG)
Age: 24
Hometown: Brighton and Hove, England
McGill has yet to see action for Canada, with multiple goalkeepers ahead of him in the pecking order in recent years. But at 24, and playing at a very good level, he is one for the future and a tournament experience like this will be invaluable.
CB – Luc de Fougerolles
Club: Fulham (ENG)
Age: 18
Hometown: London, England
The youngest player in this group, de Fougerolles is an incredibly exciting central defensive prospect. If he sees action it will likely be late in matches in which Canada are in control, but nonetheless this will be an important tournament experience for a player who could be a crucial member of this Canada team going forward.
CB – Joel Waterman
Club: CF Montréal (MLS)
Age: 28
Hometown: Surrey, BC.
Joel Waterman was a late injury replacement for Junior Hoilett, but will still bring an important depth option for Marsch at centreback. Capable of playing with the ball at his feet, the former Cavalry FC player might well see action at this tournament despite being a late addition.
FB – Kyle Hiebert
Club: St. Louis CITY (MLS)
Age: 26
Hometown: La Salle, Man.
Hiebert is a player who has quickly caught the attention of Marsch. While he doesn’t have the national team experience of many of his peers, he was brought off the bench against France earlier this month. As a depth option, he will bring Canada another player who will be comfortable playing a Marsch-type game out of the back.
MF – Ali Ahmed
Club: Vancouver Whitecaps (MLS)
Age: 23
Hometown: Toronto, Ont.
A late call-up to the Copa América camp, Ahmed has an exciting profile as a player who is comfortable in multiple positions across the pitch. For Canada, however, his greatest value might be what he can add to the group’s midfield depth, and the 23-year-old will be looking to use this competition to prove he should be a regular call-up going forward.
MF – Mathieu Choinière
Club: CF Montréal (MLS)
Age: 25
Hometown: St-Alexandre, Que.
Choinière is another player looking to establish himself as an option going forward for Marsch. With a strong engine and good versatility, he is the kind of player that the new national team manager will love to have around. Now it is on Choinière to prove that he can raise his game to this level.
FW – Jacen Russell-Rowe
Club: Columbus Crew (MLS)
Age: 21
Hometown: Brampton, Ont.
Russell-Rowe is currently in the midst of a breakout season with Columbus in MLS. Having scored in both legs of the Concacaf Champions Cup semifinals, he will come into Canada camp confident, and looking to prove himself off the bench.
FW – Tani Oluwaseyi
Club: Minnesota United (MLS)
Age: 24
Hometown: Mississauga, Ont.
A player who has been a pleasant surprise for the Canadian national team pool this season, Oluwaseyi has been one of the most prolific attackers in MLS this season. The 24-year-old has seven goals and four assists in 15 matches, and gives Canada another potential offensive spark off the bench at Copa.