Jesse Marsch has named his 26-man World Cup squad, prioritising speed and betting on the fitness of key players returning from injury. The Canadian head coach announced the roster in a primetime TV address, with LAFC winger Jacob Shaffelburg taking the final spot after six players were cut from an initial group of 32.
Injuries forced late decisions, particularly in defence, where Canada’s first-choice back four has been absent for the past 15 months. Moïse Bombito (broken leg), Derek Cornelius (hamstring) and Alfie Jones (ankle ligament) have all been included despite limited club action, while captain Alphonso Davies is expected to miss the opening match against Bosnia & Herzegovina due to a muscular issue.
Marsch remains confident in his squad’s ability to deliver on home soil. “Guys are getting healthy, I promise you,” he said. “We have really our best group of 26 players that this country has ever assembled at any one time.” The squad features four strikers and a stacked midfield, with vice-captain Steph Eustaquio and Ismaël Koné forming a key partnership.
One unresolved question is the starting goalkeeper, with Maxime Crépeau and Dayne St Clair both struggling in MLS. Both will play 45 minutes in Monday’s pre-tournament friendly against Uzbekistan, continuing a prolonged battle for the No. 1 spot.
Canada’s World Cup campaign begins against Bosnia & Herzegovina in Toronto, followed by matches against Qatar and Switzerland. Marsch’s system, honed at club level, has worked well with this gifted generation, but the fitness of Davies and the defence remains crucial to their hopes of making history at home.
