Crepeau, Choiniere & Bair highlight new-look CanMNT squad for must-win Trinidad and Tobago clash
Canada Soccer has announced today the selection of 23 players who will represent Canada at the 2023-24 Concacaf Nations League Play-In. The one-game playoff will take place Saturday, 23 March in Frisco, Texas and serve as a qualifier to the 2024 Copa América this summer.
Canada will play Trinidad & Tobago for one of the final two Concacaf spots at the 2024 Copa América, that is being jointly organized by CONMEBOL and Concacaf. The match will be played at Toyota Stadium in Frisco Texas on 23 March at 16:00 ET / 13:00 PT. The Canadian team will gather in Frisco on 18 March in preparation for the one-game play-in.
“We are excited to play in such a critical match with the chance to qualify for a major tournament. This is a great opportunity for the program to continue to play some of the elite teams on the world stage. The squad is filled with young, in-form talent. This is a chance for guys to come in with a fresh attitude to form a new culture."
- Mauro Biello, Canada Soccer’s Interim Men’s National Team Head Coach.
The winner of the Play-In match will join already qualified Concacaf countries - Jamaica, Mexico, Panama, and the United States – along with the winner of the additional Concacaf Nations League Play-In match played on 23 March between Honduras and Costa Rica, for a total of six Concacaf guest nations in this summer's tournament. Should Canada qualify, they will be placed in Group A alongside Argentina, Chile and Peru. They will also feature in the tournament’s debut match, against the current world champions Argentina.
Canada is looking to qualify for the Copa América for the first time in its history; formally known as South America’s continental football tournament. The Copa América is the oldest still-running continental football competition, as well as the third most watched in the world and determines the champions of South America. Teams hailing from North America and Asia have been extended invitations to participate and/or qualify since the 1990s.
CANADA’S SQUAD
Canada's squad will be the youngest Men's National Team selection since 2019, with all but one player being under the age of 30.
Canada's three goalkeepers this window will be Maxime Crépeau from Portland Timbers, Jonathan Sirois from CF Montréal and Dayne St. Clair from Minnesota United.
Defenders selected are: Moïse Bombito from Colorado Rapids, Tajon Buchanan* from Inter Milan, Derek Cornelius from Malmo FF, Alphonso Davies* from Bayern Munich, Luc de Fougerolles from Fulham FC, Alistair Johnston from Celtic FC, Liam Millar* from Preston North End (on loan from FC Basel), Kamal Miller from Portland Timbers, Jacob Shaffelburg* from Nashville SC and Joel Waterman from CF Montréal.
Midfielders joining the group are: Mathieu Choinière from CF Montréal, Stephen Eustáquio from FC Porto, Ismaël Koné from Watford FC, Jonathan Osorio from Toronto FC and Samuel Piette from CF Montréal.
The rest of the squad will feature forwards: Thelonius Bair from Motherwell, Cyle Larin from RCD Mallorca, Jacen Russell-Rowe from Columbus Crew and Iké Ugbo from Sheffield Wednesday (on loan from Troyes).
*Player is also listed as a forward
BROADCAST INFORMATION
The Canada v Trinidad & Tobago match will air LIVE and exclusively on OneSoccer, available on the fuboTV Canada platform, as a linear channel on TELUS's Optik TV (Channel 980), as well as online at OneSoccer.ca and through the OneSoccer app. Fans will find extended coverage across Canada Soccer’s digital channels on Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube featuring the hashtag #CANMNT.
