Jesse Marsch has called up three uncapped players to his Canada squad for this month’s friendly against Panama and training camp in Montreal.
Kwasi Poku, Jamie Knight-Lebel and Santiago Lopez all earned their first call-ups to the senior squad from Canada’s Under-20 team. Marsch has made it a top priority to increase his player pool and these additions could all feature against Panama.
In September, 50-year-old Marsh pledged to “broaden the player pool, specifically for younger players” in his squad.
Absentees include Celtic defender Alistair Johnston and Marseille midfielder Ismael Kone, who continue to work their way back from minor injuries. Montreal midfielder Samuel Piette and Portland Timbers centre-back Kamal Miller are out of the squad.
Eight players are age 23 and younger: Alphonso Davies, Jonathan Sirois (23); Poku, Niko Sigur (21); Nathan Saliba (20); Knight-Lebel, Lopez (19); and Luc De Fougerolles (18).
Canada will play Panama at BMO Field in Toronto on October 16, with the training camp taking place during the week beforehand in Montreal.
Canada squad in full
Goalkeepers: Maxime Crepeau (Portland Timbers), Dayne St. Clair (Minnesota United), Jonathan Sirois (Montreal)
Defenders: Sam Adekugbe (Vancouver Whitecaps), Zorhan Bassong (Sporting Kansas City), Moise Bombito (Nice), Derek Cornelius (Marseille), Alphonso Davies (Bayern Munich), Luc De Fougerolles (Fulham), Jamie Knight-Lebel (Crewe Alexandra), Richie Laryea (Toronto), Joel Waterman (Montreal)
Midfielders: Ali Ahmed (Vancouver Whitecaps), Mathieu Choiniere (Grasshopper), Stephen Eustaquio (Porto), Jonathan Osorio (Toronto), Nathan Saliba (Montreal), Niko Sigur (Hadjuk Split)
Forwards: Theo Bair (Auxerre), Jonathan David (Lille), Cyle Larin (Mallorca), Santiago Lopez (UNAM Pumas), Liam Millar (Hull City), Tani Oluwaseyi (Minnesota United), Kwasi Poku (RWD Molenbeek), Jacob Shaffelburg (Nashville)
Who are the new faces?
Canada’s three newcomers each bring something different to the table. Knight-Lebel is a no-nonsense central defender who has long been on Canada’s radar. A July loan from the Championship’s Bristol City to League Two’s Crewe has brought Knight-Lebel regular playing time. Crewe have racked up early season wins with Knight-Lebel playing the ball cleanly out of the back. He was named into League Two’s team of the week early in September.
Lopez is a dual national who played for Mexican youth national teams before switching to Canada. The centre-forward was a starter for Canada during July’s Concacaf Under-20 championship, notching three highlight-reel goals in four games. While so much of his skill set is raw, Canada’s coaching staff will undoubtedly like Lopez’s ability to deliver in big moments — and with flair, too. Most of Lopez’s appearances this season have come with Pumas’ Under-23 squad.
Poku is a player who could push for a spot in the 2026 World Cup roster with continued development. Forge FC coach Bobby Smyrniotis deserves credit for turning the athletic and dynamic Poku from a left midfielder to a No 9 this season. He was quickly scooped up by Molenbeek mid-season for a Canadian Premier League league-record fee. His ability to find space and convert is strong, though continued reps are needed for Poku to better understand the forward position.
Which players might shine?
Alistair Johnston’s spot in Canada’s 2026 World Cup roster feels as safe as anyone, but with the physical and steady right-back out of the Canada’s roster for this window, there is an opportunity for players to solidify their role as first-choice right back off the bench. Richie Laryea remains a versatile option at both left and right-back but with Alphonso Davies likely taking the left back spot, Laryea could remind Marsch and the coaching staff just how much he can impact physical matches.
Zorhan Bassong last played for Canada in 2020. While playing both in defense and in midfield, Bassong has earned regular starts for Sporting Kansas City through the second half of the MLS season. Bassong can show off his versatility to Marsch through this camp.
Expect Mathieu Choiniere to continue to push for a start against Panama with Ismael Kone out. Choiniere has one goal in his first two matches in Switzerland since a mid-season transfer. Marsch is a fan of Choiniere’s poise on the ball.
Also in midfield, Nathan Saliba has established himself as one of the best young players in MLS. The athletic and dynamic midfielder will likely soon move from Montreal to Europe. Marsch views this training camp as a chance to better understand who his depth players will be in 2026.
(Top image: Omar Vega/Getty Images)
