Bombito is back as CanMNT names squad for Australia, Colombia friendlies

On Tuesday, the Canadian men’s national team unveiled its squad for a pair of October friendlies against Australia and Colombia. 

Jesse Marsch called up 24 players as Canada take on 25th-ranked Australia on Oct. 10 at Stade Saputo in Montréal, before travelling to Harrison, New Jersey for a clash with 14th-ranked Colombia on Oct. 14. Both matches will be available live on OneSoccer, TSN and RDS. 

The biggest news is the return of OGC Nice central defender Moïse Bombito to the Canadian fold after missing out on this summer’s Gold Cup and September’s friendlies due to injuries. He made his season debut this past weekend in Ligue 1, going 90 minutes for Nice in a 1-1 draw with Paris FC. 

Other changes to the side from the September window, where Canada defeated both Romania and Wales in those respective countries, are the inclusions of Portland Timbers goalkeeper James Pantemis, Hull City midfielder Liam Millar and Toronto FC’s Jonathan Osorio. 

Millar makes his return to Canada’s squad after almost a year since his last appearance, Oct. 16, 2024, in a friendly against Panama, after recovering from a serious knee injury while playing with Hull City. His return to the squad will add even more competition to an already stacked Canadian left flank. 

Osorio is back in the side after not being called up for September’s friendlies. Pantemis, meanwhile, has yet to make a senior appearance for Canada but was part of the squad at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. He has also been the starter for the Portland Timbers for the majority of this season, beating out Max Crépeau for minutes. 

Justin Hibbert, Jamie Knight-Lebel, Junior Hoilett and Jahkeele Marshall-Rutty were not called up this window after being part of September’s group. Bayern Munich’s Alphonso Davies and Celtic defender Alistair Johnston remain out through injury. 

Canada are searching for a first win against Colombia since a famous 2-0 victory in the final of the 2000 Concacaf Gold Cup. They last defeated Australia in the first leg of a World Cup qualifying playoff in 1993. 

Here is Canada’s full 24-player squad 

GK - Maxime Crépeau (Portland Timbers / USA)
GK - James Pantemis (Portland Timbers / USA)
GK - Dayne St. Clair (Minnesota United / USA)
DF - Zorhan Bassong (Sporting Kansas City / USA)
DF - Moïse Bombito (OGC Nice / FRA)
DF - Derek Cornelius (Rangers / SCO)
DF - Luc de Fougerolles (FCV Dender / BEL)
DF - Richie Laryea (Toronto FC / CAN) 
DF - Niko Sigur (Hajduk Split / CRO)
DF - Joel Waterman (Chicago Fire / USA)
MF - Ali Ahmed (Vancouver Whitecaps / CAN)
MF - Tajon Buchanan (Villarreal / SPA) 
MF - Mathieu Choinière (LAFC / USA) 
MF - Stephen Eustáquio (FC Porto / POR) 
MF - Ismaël Koné (Sassuolo / ITA) 
MF - Liam Millar (Hull City / ENG) 
MF - Jayden Nelson (Vancouver Whitecaps / CAN) 
MF - Jonathan Osorio (Toronto FC / CAN)
MF - Nathan Saliba (RSC Anderlecht / BEL)
MF - Jacob Shaffelburg (Nashville SC / USA)
FW - Jonathan David (Juventus FC / ITA)
FW - Promise David (Royale Union Saint-Gilloise / BEL)
FW - Cyle Larin (Feyenoord / NED) 
FW - Tani Oluwaseyi (CF Villarreal / SPA)