Canada’s national men’s soccer team coach, Jesse Marsch, has assembled a group of 21 players for a training camp set to take place in California from Thursday to January 18. The camp, scheduled in Irvine outside the FIFA international window, features players primarily from North America except for one player.
The team will engage in a Tier 1 international match against Guatemala on January 17 at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, counting towards FIFA’s global rankings. Presently, Canada holds the 27th position worldwide and ranks third in CONCACAF, trailing behind the U.S. and Mexico. In contrast, Guatemala holds the 94th rank globally and is positioned 10th in the region.
Expressing enthusiasm for the upcoming camp, Marsch stated on Tuesday, “We’re excited to have an extra opportunity to have a men’s national team camp ahead of a massive year. We have a very talented squad of North American-based players who will be hungry to prove themselves.”
The last encounter between Canada and Guatemala was in June 2025 during the Gold Cup quarterfinals, where Guatemala emerged victorious in a penalty shootout after a 1-1 tie. Notably, Canada played with 10 men following Jacob Shaffelburg’s first-half dismissal.
The roster for the California camp includes LAFC’s Shaffelburg and Mathieu Choiniere, alongside Toronto FC’s Richie Laryea and Jonathan Osorio, all of whom are strong contenders for the upcoming World Cup. Additionally, other players attending the camp will strive to make a mark and secure a spot.
Players like Kamal Miller, Joel Waterman, and Jayden Nelson aim to secure positions in Marsch’s 26-man World Cup lineup, with Luka Gavran and James Pantemis vying for the third goalkeeper slot behind Dayne St. Clair and Max Crepeau, who are absent from the camp roster due to recent MLS club changes.
Furthermore, Matteo de Brienne, the lone European-based invitee, has a notable background having won the Canadian Premier League Best Canadian Under-21 Player Award in 2023 while playing for Valour FC. The camp also includes CPL players such as Noah Abatneh, Shola Jimoh, and Tiago Coimbra, who have showcased exceptional skills in their respective teams.
Young talent Marius Aiyenero, a Canadian youth international playing for Los Angeles FC 2, joins as a training player. Marcelo Flores, currently playing for Tigres UNAL in Mexico, receives a full invitation after being a training player in Marsch’s previous camp.
With just two FIFA international windows before the World Cup, the January camp serves as a crucial opportunity for Marsch to interact with his players ahead of the tournament. The camp roster features a mix of experienced players and promising talents eager to make their mark on the national team.