1-ON-1 🎙️ + SQUAD ANALYSIS: Jesse Marsch calls up CanMNT dual-nationals Alfie Jones, Owen Goodman & Marcelo Flores

---

The latest CanMNT squad has been revealed ahead of the November window, and, in news that’ll excite Canadian fans in certain circles, it includes some intriguing new faces. 

Despite having three windows left before the start of the World Cup, Jesse Marsch has called in a trio of dual nationals into his latest squad, as Owen Goodman, Alfie Jones and Marcelo Flores have all earned nods, with Goodman and Jones being included in the squad proper, while Flores comes in as a training player.

That’s big news for Canada, who continues to bolster their squad ahead of the World Cup, finding ways to widen their player pool whenever possible. 

Naturally, of the three, Goodman is the big acquisition. A 21-year-old goalkeeper contracted to Premier League side Crystal Palace, he’s currently on loan to EFL League 1 side Huddersfield Town, having had a standout 2024-2025 season with EFL League 2 side AFC Wimbledon. 

Because of that, it’s felt that it’s only a matter of time before he earns an opportunity at a much higher level, given where he’s at for his age, as he’s certainly one of the brighter goalkeeping prospects in the UK pyramid. He’s had a mixed start to life at Huddersfield - he was excellent to begin the year, but lost his spot after a red card - but it’s expected he bounces back before the end of the season, as he’s been good in the rare instances he’s been called upon lately. 

An Owen Goodman appreciation post 👏

2⃣5⃣ clean sheets
🌟 #SkyBetLeagueTwo Team of the Season
🧤 League Two Golden Glove
📈 Play-Off Final winner

Not bad for a second season in senior football for the @CPFC loanee! 🤩#EFLPlayOffs | #StepUp pic.twitter.com/GqooksOo2f

— Sky Bet League Two (@SkyBetLeagueTwo) May 29, 2025

For Canada, whose two main goalkeepers, Maxime Crépeau and Dayne St. Clair, are in their late 20s and early 30s, Goodman could very well be their goalkeeper of the future, which is why it was a blow to hear Marsch say earlier this year that Goodman was unlikely to be eligible to represent Canada anytime soon. 

Yet, things have changed, and now Goodman will be able to represent Canada, whom he’s previously represented once at the U20 level. It might be a while before he sees the net for Canada, as Crépeau and St. Clair have done well when called upon, but this is a move that should pay off further down the line - especially when considering the experience he’ll now be able to accumulate as a third goalkeeper, on top of the development he’s been getting week-in and week-out at the club level. 

All of a sudden, between Goodman’s commitment and the presence of other promising goalkeepers like Jayden Hibbert, who earned a CanMNT call in September, Canada is building some impressive depth in net, showing why this news is so exciting.

Here's Goodman' stats from this year - despite limited minutes, he's been an excellent shotstopper, and has been solid with his feet, too (WyScout)

Otherwise, though, don’t sleep on the impact that Jones could have on this team. 

Unlike Goodman, who is more of a future bet, Jones comes into the Canadian fold looking to make an immediate impact, as the Middlesbrough defender is a 28-year-old centre back in the prime of his career. 

For a Canadian team that has been stricken with injuries at the back, with Moïse Bombito out until early 2026 with a leg fracture, and Luc De Fougerolles not in this squad as he deals with a lingering lower-body issue, Jones will quickly look to earn minutes in his first camp. 

Who is Alfie Jones? 👀@AlexGangueRuzic offers a deep dive on the latest dual-national linked to the CanMNT 🇨🇦

READ: https://t.co/bcndBsMUIY pic.twitter.com/XMU1968mVw

— OneSoccer (@onesoccer) October 14, 2025

He’ll be in tough to start for Canada at the World Cup, as their centre back pairing will almost certainly consist of Bombito and Derek Cornelius, health permitting, but there’s no reason why Jones can’t become the #3 or #4 option in the depth chart. In a tournament where injuries and suspensions can quickly crop up, that’s not a bad position for him to be in - and from a Canadian perspective, it’d be a huge luxury to have a player of his calibre as a depth option. 

In the midst of a strong season with Middlesbrough in the Championship, where his side is making a bit of a promotion push towards the Premier League, he brings valuable experience to the table and appears to be a natural fit in Marsch's system, which is key. 

Now, the challenge he faces is that the two centre backs he’ll be competing with for minutes, Joel Waterman and Kamal Miller, are also quite familiar with this system and group, but Jones certainly has the quality to usurp both of them if he plays up to his level. 

At the very least, though, he’ll bolster Canada’s centre back depth and further stoke competition, which Marsch won’t mind at all. Now, it remains to be seen if he can climb higher up the depth chart and play an immediate role, as the door is open for him to do so this camp if he plays his cards right.

Here's Jones's stats from this year - as seen above, he's been solid defensively, although his passing numbers haven't been as strong as in past seasons (WyScout)

Speaking of playing his cards, though, Flores is the last name to watch, as his situation is quite interesting. 

Certainly, Flores isn’t seen as the can’t-miss prospect that he was a few years ago, when he was in Arsenal’s academy, but at 22, he’s still yet to finish developing as a player.

No doubt, though, he’s about to enter a crucial period of his career, as he’s struggled for minutes at Liga MX side Tigres UNAL, where he’s now been since 2023, scoring 11 goals and adding four assists in 71 appearances. 

Having committed to Mexico’s National Team, with whom he’s made three appearances, he’d have to file a switch to join Canada, but he’s now eligible to do so, as his last Mexico cap came in June of 2022 - given that he was under 21 at the time, and that he made three or fewer appearances, he can still represent Canada if he files that switch. 

Tigres takes the lead!! 👏👏 pic.twitter.com/pGcefUDPJH

— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) August 9, 2024

Given the lack of opportunities with Mexico, one can understand why he’d be interested in representing Canada going forward, but the question is how much he can bring to this Canadian team.

Sitting as an attacking midfielder, which is a position of need for Canada, you can see why Marsch is making a bet on his potential by inviting him around the group, although he’d be more of a long-term project if he commits, as it’s hard to see him cracking a 23 or 26-player squad unless he takes a big leap forward.

Here's Flores's numbers from the 2024-2025 season with Tigres - he had strong ball progression among his peers, and solid final third numbers (FBRef)

Yet, that’s the benefit of inviting him in as a training player - Marsch can offer him a glimpse of what representing Canada could be like, which could help Flores come to a decision, and perhaps give him the spark he needs to hit the potential he’s shown before. 

Overall, though, that’s the story of each of these dual nationals, as well as the other dual nationals that have committed to the Canadian team since Marsch’s hiring - Marsch has made sure to be very intentional about the way he handles each player, with each situation being unique.  

Unlike past editions of the Canadian team, who tried to attract any dual nationals possible, Canada has now reached a position where they’ve got to be more calculated with who they bring in, and when they do it. 

For example, with Goodman and Flores, Marsch is making more long-term bets, while Jones is more of a short-term solution at a position of need - instead of bringing in a third experienced goalkeeper or another experienced striker, which would feel like redundant call-ups given the players Canada has at each position. 

And, more importantly, these moves show that Marsch is keeping an eye on the future, which is very important to remember.

While Canada’s focus is naturally locked firmly on the World Cup next summer, which is understandable given the magnitude of that tournament, and what it could do for Canada as co-hosts, this team won’t disappear after that tournament. 

In fact, it’s hoped that the World Cup serves as a bit of a launching pad towards a reality where Canada regularly qualifies for World Cups, dominates Concacaf and establishes itself as a top 20 National Team. 

Because of that, while Marsch continues to do what he can to make this Canadian team as strong as he can in the near future, as seen with Jones’s commitment, players like Goodman, Flores, Niko Sigur, Promise David, Nathan Saliba and many others show the way he’s also focused on the future, too. 

Between that and the continued work that’s been done to get more and more Canadian players playing at the highest level, in the way that someone like Tani Oluwaseyi has gone from an MLS-level striker at Minnesota United to a La Liga and Champions League-level striker at Villarreal CF in the past 18 months, the examples of the work being done continue to grow. 

“I take the responsibility of leading this team and selecting this team very seriously,” Marsch told OneSoccer’s Kristian Jack this week  . “And every time I go through (and select), I think carefully about what the fixtures are, where we are with the development of the entire group, where we are with the development of each individual.”

“And I’m thinking about players who have been on the outside, players that are new to the system, and seeing all the ways we can build the potential of what the team can be this window, next window, a year from now, five years from now, 10 years from now, and to honour that development path as much as possible.”