The World Cup 2026 hosts certainly aren't considered amongst the favourites to win or even go deep into the tournament, but there's hope that they can spring shocks and build on the 2022 edition.
Canada was in a difficult group four years ago, alongside the likes of Belgium, Morocco and Croatia, so it was no surprise to see them finish bottom of the group with zero points.
With the group now four years older and led by manager Jesse Marsch, who possesses solid experience at club level in European football, there's certainly hope that they can progress out of the groups this time around as the Pot 1 nation.
Alphonso Davies has been deemed fit for inclusion in the squad after recent hamstring injury woes, with the Bayern Munich speedster being an integral player in Marsch's side, but he is expected to miss the first two group games which is a blow for Canada to say the least.
Villareal's Tajon Buchanan and Tani Oluwaseyi, and Los Angeles FC midfield duo Stephen Eustaquio and Mathieu Choiniere, are also among those named in Marsch's final selection.
Mood
Canada’s World Cup record reads P6 L6, but expectations are much higher this year.
They’ve come a long way since an 8-1 drubbing at Honduras ended World Cup 2014 qualification hopes, and Qatar 2022 was treated as a dress rehearsal for a group of neophytes on the world stage. Now, superstars Alphonso Davies and Jonathan David are ready to provide an uncharacteristically rude welcome to Canada.
The fans will also supply a raucous atmosphere for home fixtures. Fueled by immigration, soccer culture in Canada has exploded alongside talent development.
Squad
Canada World Cup 2026 squad: The final selection
- GK: Dayne St. Clair (Inter Miami)
- GK: Maxime Crepeau (Orlando City)
- GK: Owen Goodman (Barnsley)
- DF: Moise Bombito (Nice)
- DF: Derek Cornelius (Rangers)
- DF: Alphonso Davies (Bayern Munich)
- DF: Luc De Fougerolles (FCV Dender)
- DF: Alistair Johnston (Celtic)
- DF: Alfie Jones (Middlesbrough)
- DF: Richie Laryea (Toronto FC)
- DF: Niko Sigur (Hajduk Split)
- DF: Joel Waterman (Chicago Fire)
- MF: Ali Ahmed (Norwich City)
- MF: Tajon Buchanan (Villarreal)
- MF: Mathieu Choiniere (Los Angeles FC)
- MF: Stephen Eustaquio (Los Angeles FC)
- MF: Marcelo Flores (Tigres UANL)
- MF: Ismael Kone (Sassuolo)
- MF: Liam Millar (Hull City)
- MF: Jonathan Osorio (Toronto FC)
- MF: Nathan Saliba (Anderlecht)
- MF: Jacob Shaffelburg (Los Angeles FC)
- FW: Jonathan David (Juventus)
- FW: Promise David (Royale-Union Saint Gilloise)
- FW: Cyle Larin (Southampton)
- FW: Tani Oluwaseyi (Villarreal)
Fixtures
- June 12, 2026: Canada vs Bosnia and Herzegovina , BMO Field, Toronto, Canada
- June 18, 2026: Canada vs Qatar , BC Place , Vancouver, Canada
- June 24, 2026: Switzerland vs Canada , BC Place, Vancouver, Canada
Recent Results
- June 5, 2026: Canada 1-1 Republic of Ireland , Saputo Stadium, Montreal, Canada
- June 1, 2026: Canada 2-0 Uzbekistan , Commonwealth Stadium, Edmonton, Canada
- March 31, 2026: Canada 0-0 Tunisia , BMO Field, Toronto, Canada
- March 28, 2026: Canada 2-2 Iceland , BMO Field , Toronto, Canada
- November 18, 2025: Venezuela 0–2 Canada , Chase Stadium, Fort Lauderdale, United States
- November 13, 2025: Canada 0–0 Ecuador , BMO Field, Toronto, Canada
- October 14, 2025: Colombia 0–0 Canada , Sports Illustrated Stadium, Harrison, United States
- October 10, 2025: Canada 0–1 Australia , Saputo Stadium, Montreal, Canada
- September 9, 2025: Wales 0–1 Canada , Swansea.com Stadium, Swansea, Wales
- September 5, 2025: Romania 0–3 Canada , Arena Națională, Bucharest, Romania
- June 29, 2025: Canada 1–1 Guatemala (5–6 pens) , U.S. Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, United States
- June 24, 2025: Canada 2–0 El Salvador , Shell Energy Stadium, Houston, United States
- June 21, 2025: Curaçao 1–1 Canada , Shell Energy Stadium, Houston, United States
- June 17, 2025: Canada 6–0 Honduras , BC Place, Vancouver, Canada
- June 10, 2025: Canada 0–0 Ivory Coast (4–5 pens) , BMO Field, Toronto, Canada
- June 7, 2025: Canada 4–2 Ukraine , BMO Field, Toronto, Canada
- March 23, 2025: Canada 2–1 United States , SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, United States
- March 20, 2025: Canada 0–2 Mexico , SoFi Stadium , Inglewood, United States
Group B standings
Canada are in Group B at World Cup 2026.
Manager
Who is Canada's manager?
Jesse Marsch made the step into international management when he assumed the role as Canada head coach in 2024.
He made the 2024 Copa America semi-final, losing to Argentina, before being eliminated in the 2025 Gold Cup in the quarter-finals.
He rebuffed an approach after the tournament from the US national team and will now lead Canada at just their third World Cup.
Star player
Who is Canada's star player?
Should Canada be successful this summer in their home tournament, a lot will rely on Jonathan David, who scored just six goals in 35 Serie A games this season, re-discovering form.
The striker previously spent five years in Ligue 1 with Lille, tallying 37 goal involvements as his side played Champions League football for the first time in three years during his final season, before earning a move to Juventus.
He is Canada's all-time highest goalscorer, with a recent penalty brace against Iceland in March bringing his haul to 39 goals in 79 games, but failed to register a goal at the World Cup in 2022.
