FORM GUIDE: How CanMNT, CanWNT players have kicked off a crucial 2026

A vital year for Canadian soccer begins, and players across both national teams know that each of their performances will be scrutinized like never before. 

That is, of course, particularly true of the men’s national team, many of whom are already on the move this transfer window, which will create many interesting storylines for the months ahead as they settle into their new clubs. 

With most of the European-based Canadian national team players back in action this week, here is a look at the biggest stories on the pitch of 2026 so far: 

Flores comes into CanMNT camp off the back of a brace

Well, how about that for a confidence boost? After playing minimal minutes during the Apertura for Tigres, Marcelo Flores kicked off the Clausura with a bang, scoring a brace in a 2-1 win over San Luis.

This comes ahead of what is expected to be his first full training camp with the Canadian men’s national team. The decision to allow Flores to attend this camp from the club side becomes even more interesting, as Tigres play twice, against Pumas and Toluca, during the time in which Flores is set to be in camp with Canada. 

However, after the match, Tigres manager, the legendary Guido Pizarro, did say the club will help Flores play in the World Cup for Canada – which seems like quite the development in his dual-national situation. 

Jourde continues strong first professional season  

One of the most exciting prospects in the Canadian national team system, Florianne Jourde is off to a great start to 2026 after scoring her second goal for PSG in a 2-0 win over Lille in the Coupe de France.  

After losing in the final last year on penalties, the hope will be that Jourde and PSG can get back to the final, and earn a different outcome this season. They have drawn Marie Levasseur and Montpellier in the Round of 16. 

In other action… 

CanMNT 

Owen Goodman has not played a match for Huddersfield Town since late November, on the bench for their past eight games in League One. With cup competition coming up, however, perhaps he can get himself back into the plans. 

Niko Sigur has been a name heavily floated in transfer news lately. He may have played his last match for Hajduk Split, who are not in action again until January 25. 

Alfie Jones has undergone ankle surgery and is expected to miss the next eight to 10 weeks. 

Luc de Fougerolles was sent off in Dender’s final match of 2025, but could get a chance to take on fellow Canadian Promise David in the Belgian Cup on Wednesday. 

Alphonso Davies made his long-awaited return to the Bayern Munich lineup at the end of 2025, but missed the club’s first match of 2026, an 8-1 smashing of Wolfsburg, through illness. Bayern do have two matches coming up this week, and perhaps a chance for Davies to earn his first significant minutes since injury. Watch both matches live on OneSoccer. 

Junior Hoilett scored in his final match of 2025, earning a start to begin 2026 in a 3-1 win over Kilmarnock. He then came off the bench this past weekend in a 1-1 draw with Motherwell. 

Tajon Buchanan went 67 minutes in Villarreal’s first match of 2026, a 3-1 victory over Alavés. The Yellow Submarines remain solidly in third place in the table. 

Nathan Saliba and Anderlecht kick off 2026 against Gent in the Belgian Cup quarter-finals on Thursday, before meeting them again in the league on the weekend. 

Stephen Eustáquio was an unused sub in Porto’s first match of 2026, and has played just twice in the league, for a total of 23 minutes, in their past ten matches. 

Ismaël Koné has continued to be a fixture in the Sassuolo starting eleven, including the past two matches against Juventus and Roma, both of which were losses. Sassuolo, unfortunately, has not won in their past six matches. 

Liam Millar had a harrowing 2025, but earned his way back into the squad toward the end of the year as he returned from injury. He started the club’s first match of 2026, a 1-0 loss against Stoke and did so again on Sunday in the FA Cup as Hull City advanced past Blackburn Rovers. 

Jonathan David has had a rollercoaster start to 2026. In the first match of the year, against Lecce, he missed a poorly taken penalty that would have stood as the winner in a 1-1 draw. The next game, however, against Koné and Sassuolo, he scored a goal and added an assist. Consistency of production is going to be crucial for David this year, as he looks to finally settle in Italy ahead of the World Cup. 

Tani Oluwaseyi came off the bench in the 82nd minute as Villarreal defeated Alavés 3-1 in their first match of 2026. 

Promise David and USG begin the year on Wednesday taking on Luc de Fougerolles’ Dender. Also on the calendar will be Wednesday, January 21’s trip to Germany to take on Alphonso Davies’ Bayern Munich. 

Theo Bair’s year is off to a rough start as he will now miss six to eight weeks with an ankle injury. The hope is that when he returns  

Cyle Larin is finally getting back on the pitch for Feyenoord, playing 10 minutes this past weekend in a 1-1 draw with Heerenveen. 

Daniel Jebbison is still looking to open his account in 2026, coming off the bench in Preston North End’s two league victories, before starting a 1-0 loss to Wigan in the FA Cup. 

CanWNT

Sabrina D’Angelo started in net for Aston Villa as they defeated Brighton 2-1 in their first WSL match of 2026. 

Jayde Riviere was sent off after getting two yellow cards in a 0-0 draw with Arsenal on Saturday.  Simi Awujo made a brief appearance for United in the match as well, shortened by Riviere’s sending off. 

Ashley Lawrence was not in the lineup for Lyonnes against Saint-Étienne in their Coupe de France match. 

Jade Rose played 90 minutes for Manchester City in their first match of the season, keeping a clean sheet in a 2-0 win over Everton. 

Olivia Smith started and went 63 minutes in Arsenal’s 0-0 draw with Manchester United. 

Evelyne Viens started for Roma this past weekend and earned an assist in their 2-1 loss to Juventus.