Canada to unveil 2026 World Cup roster on May 29

Canada will name its 26-man World Cup squad on May 29 in Charlotte, with injuries still shaping several of the biggest selection calls.

The announcement will come later than most, as Jesse Marsch prepares to unveil the Canada Men’s National Team for the 2026 World Cup at the pre-tournament camp in Charlotte. The extra time gives staff more room to monitor recovery before the June 1 and June 5 friendlies against Uzbekistan and Ireland.

That delay matters because many of the injured players are still expected to be available for the tournament. It also means the final choices are being made with a thinner pool than usual, especially once the group moves beyond the 27th or 28th player.

Goalkeeper race remains unsettled

James Pantemis has emerged as an unexpected option after being Canada’s best goalkeeper during the 2026 MLS season. The Portland Timbers keeper has only one cap, yet he would still count as a surprise if he makes the roster.

Maxime Crépeau and Dayne St. Clair remain the leading names after Canada moved on from Milan Borjan. St. Clair has played 15 of Canada’s 29 matches under Marsch and won MLS Goalkeeper of the Year honors in 2025 with Minnesota United, while Crépeau has shown a stronger ability to produce a big save when needed.

Pantemis, 29, has a 5.0 goals prevented mark, which ranks fourth among MLS starting goalkeepers, and a 72.5% save percentage, seventh overall and well ahead of his compatriots. He also produced an MLS Save of the Year contender against Lionel Messi in a 2-0 loss to Inter Miami.

If the decision were based only on current club form, Pantemis would be the starter, not merely a squad member. Instead, he is competing for the third goalkeeper spot with 22-year-old Owen Goodman, who has been described as Canada’s next starter but had mixed results on loan with Huddersfield Town and Barnsley from Crystal Palace.

Defensive injuries shape selection

Canada’s back line may be the area most affected by fitness concerns, with several projected starters racing to be ready for the opener. Alphonso Davies remains the biggest question, having suffered a hamstring strain against Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Champions League semifinal after returning from injury in March.

The 25-year-old is expected to miss five to six weeks, which makes him doubtful for the World Cup group stage. He will likely be included in the 26-man squad and could be available from the bench in the opener or soon after, but he is not expected to be at full strength.

Richie Laryea, who has filled in at left back for Toronto FC, has not played since April 22 but is expected to be ready for the tournament. That leaves Alistair Johnston, who has not played for Canada since June 2025 because of various injuries, and Niko Sigur as the only fully healthy fullbacks with starting potential.

There are similar concerns at center back. Moïse Bombito is still recovering from a broken leg and has not played since Oct. 5, while Derek Cornelius has not played a club match since Nov. 9 after being moved to Rangers FC’s reserve team.

Alfie Jones is still recovering after surgery with Middlesbrough, and 20-year-old Luc de Fougerolles is still building up his minutes with FCV Dender. Joel Waterman is the only healthy defender on the projected roster who is also playing regularly, while Kamal Miller, Zorhan Bassong, Jamie Knight-Lebel and Jahkeele Marshall-Rutty are among the alternatives if any of those names fall off the list.

Midfield looks most settled

The midfield is the least worrying area from an injury standpoint and appears to be the most settled part of the squad. There may be only one place still genuinely open.

Stephen Eustáquio is expected to start and captain Canada in the opening match, even though he missed the March window with a hematoma. Ismaël Koné is also expected to start alongside him, bringing composure in possession and the ability to break defensive lines with low passes.

Koné scored six Serie A goals this season, and at 23 he could play a major role in his second World Cup. Mathieu Choinière and Nathan Saliba are also in position to challenge for starting roles, with Choinière in strong MLS and CONCACAF form at LAFC and Saliba drawing interest from clubs in England and Italy after five goals and two assists in his first European season with RSC Anderlecht.

Jonathan Osorio is likely to complete the central midfield group and would turn 34 during the opening match on the pitch he has called home for club and country since 2013. Tajon Buchanan is locked in on the right wing, while Ali Ahmed is expected to operate on the left.

Liam Millar should offer minutes off the bench after helping Hull City reach the EFL Championship playoff final, and Marcelo Flores appears set for his first competitive matches for Canada after standing out in March friendlies. Other wide options include Jacob Shaffelburg, Jayden Nelson and Junior Hoilett.

Who leads the attack?

Cyle Larin and Jonathan David defined Canada’s route to the 2022 World Cup and started together at that tournament, and four years later they appear set to lead the line again. David has become the face of Canada’s World Cup hopes because of Davies’ injuries, even though he finished his first season with Juventus with eight goals and five assists in 45 matches.

Larin has rediscovered form at Southampton, scoring nine goals in 22 matches after joining in January. He has not scored for Canada since 2024, but his club output makes him hard to leave out, and he has picked up the nickname “Brampton Bagsman,” a nod to his hometown and one of the cities most associated with Canadian soccer.

David is expected to play slightly deeper behind Larin in a 4-4-2 rather than in a more crowded attacking setup. Canada’s use of a 4-4-1-1 has generally not produced strong results.

Promise David is the most intriguing option behind them. The 6-foot-5 Royal Union Saint-Gilloise striker had hip surgery in February but is ahead of schedule in his recovery, and the May 29 squad unveiling gives him a few more days to recover while staff assess him in Charlotte.

Before the injury, he had scored 15 goals in 37 matches, including the first goal of the 2025-26 UEFA Champions League season. He has three goals in 201 minutes for Canada, and he is not related to Jonathan David.

Villarreal’s Tani Oluwaseyi adds pace, athleticism and long-range shooting, while Preston North End’s Daniel Jebbison brings physicality to the attack. If Canada goes with the expected group, those names will sit behind Larin and Jonathan David in the pecking order.