CanMNT announce 26-player squad for 2024 Copa América tournament

2024-06-15

Mitchell Tierney, Digital Content Producer (@mitchelltierney)

On Saturday, Canada Soccer revealed the 26-player men’s national team squad which will represent the country at the 2024 Copa América.

Canada are making their first-ever appearance at the historic competition, which is in its 48th edition. They do so with a strong squad that features the likes of Bayern Munich’s Alphonso Davies, Porto’s Stephen Eustáquio, Inter Milan’s Tajon Buchanan and Lille’s Jonathan David.

Former Cavalry FC defender Joel Waterman, now with CF Montréal, was a late add to the group as veteran attacker Junior Hoilett suffered an injury during training ahead of the tournament.

The biggest surprise omission for Canada is likely 25-year-old striker Iké Ugbo, who had a fantastic season with Sheffield Wednesday and Cardiff City in the EFL Championship. Marsch later revealed in a press conference that Ugbo had been invited but is choosing to take a break for personal reasons — stating that this certainly won’t be the last we see of the player in a Canada shirt.

In his place, Minnesota United’s Tani Oluwaseyi, who recently received his first cap against France after being a later call-up to Canada’s camp earlier this month, and Motherwell’s Theo Bair are the preferred striker options off the bench.

Other changes from the group that faced France and the Netherlands earlier this month are Vancouver Whitecaps midfielder Ali Ahmed, and Columbus Crew striker Jacen Russell-Rowe.

Canada play in the tournament’s opening match on Thursday, June 20 against Lionel Messi and Argentina at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta (8 p.m. ET). Their Group A journey continues with taking on Peru on Tuesday, June 25 in Kansas City (6 p.m. ET), before facing Chile on Saturday, June 29, in Orlando (8 p.m. ET).

Full Canada Squad:

*Joel Waterman was a late injury replacement for Junior Hoilett.