Canada hopes to build on the progress made four years ago as it co-hosts the 2026 FIFA World Cup this summer.
Les Rouges qualified for the 2022 tournament in Qatar, their first World Cup in 40 years, and despite not picking up a single point in the group stage, they impressed with their tenacity and fast-paced style.
Now, in 2026, mere participation will not be enough as Jesse Marsch hopes to lead the team into a tournament where they have the expectation of performing at a certain level.
The players Marsch selects to compete on football’s biggest stage will be announced later this month, with the World Cup set to begin in mid-June.
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When will Canada’s World Cup squad be announced?
Canada’s official World Cup squad will be announced on Friday, May 29th
According to FIFA regulations, teams participating in the World Cup had to submit a provisional list of players by May 11th and their final, shortened list by May 30th at the latest.
How many players are in Canada’s World Cup squad?
The final squad must consist of a minimum of 23 and a maximum of 26 players. So almost every team will carry the maximum 26 players.
The only other requirement is that at least three of these players must be goalkeepers. Otherwise, Jesse Marsch has largely had free rein over who he takes to the tournament, with some players remaining firmly in the squad if they are fit, while others struggle to get into the squad.
Up to 27 team officials will complete the traveling group.
MORE: Full Group B schedule with Canada
Can Canada replace players in its World Cup squad?
Teams are allowed to make changes to their roster due to injury or illness up to 24 hours before their first scheduled game of the tournament. Medical evidence of the reason for withdrawal must be submitted to FIFA for approval.
Canada’s opening Group B game is June 12 in Toronto against Bosnia and Herzegovina, the first game of the entire competition, meaning any replacements must be arranged by June 11. After that, the squad for the tournament is set in stone.
The only exception concerns goalkeepers: if one of the three goalkeepers is injured or ill and has to withdraw, he may be replaced by another goalkeeper from the provisional list at any point in the competition (again, subject to FIFA’s approval of the change).
Where is Canada’s World Cup hotel and training camp?
The Canadian players, staff and association officials will have their World Cup center in Vancouver, at the Vancouver Whitecaps’ main training facility, located at the University of British Colombia.
However, they won’t be able to do it for some time. They will first train in Charlotte, North Carolina for their World Cup preparation camp before playing pre-tournament friendlies north of the border in Edmonton and Montreal. They will then travel directly to Toronto on June 12th for the tournament opener against Bosnia and Herzegovina.
After that, they will finally travel to British Columbia to set up camp at the university and finally find their feet before their final two group games, both at BC Place in Vancouver.