Tuesday marks 500 days until the start of Canada’s opening game of the 2026 World Cup at BMO Field in Toronto.
Anticipation surrounding the World Cup continues to grow with the rise of Canada’s men’s national team under Jesse Marsch. And in less than two months, Canada will play in a crucial competitive tune-up tournament: the 2025 CONCACAF Nations League Finals. Canada’s semifinal against Mexico in Los Angeles will present a picture of what must-win games in front of fervent crowds could look like in under a year and a half.
With the Nations League Finals and the World Cup approaching, The Athletic is committed to keeping you up-to-date with what we’re hearing about Canada’s men’s national team and the sport domestically. Whether it’s transfer news, roster movement and speculation or insight into the characters on the team, we’re going to continue to be at the forefront of covering this unique period in the history of Canadian soccer.
Davies’ Bayern stay ‘inevitable’
Alphonso Davies’ club future is all but decided with a contract extension with Bayern Munich now seemingly inevitable.
The Canadian star’s happiness and comfort in Munich is driving his decision to re-sign with Bayern.
What does this mean for the national team?
It’s hard to argue against some stability for Davies moving forward. He’s been the subject of transfer rumours for well over a year now. Now he is Canada captain, he will be the unquestioned face of a team playing in a home World Cup. That pressure and spotlight might be a lot to handle.
A transfer might have compounded that pressure by uprooting his life and career so close to the tournament. What if a move to Real Madrid or the Premier League blew up in his face? Would Davies want that kind of instability come 2026?
Davies staying at Bayern could see him grow into one of the faces of the team. Learning to do so over the next 16 months could only help his comfort level with an even increased role in the Canadian spotlight.
Testing times for Kone at Marseille
Ismael Kone has hit the first major roadblock of his career. Injuries, a lack of patience and belief from his new manager at Marseille after a summer transfer and a lack of playing time have left Kone on the outs at 22. The creative midfielder has made just two club appearances since Nov. 8. Marseille manager Roberto De Zerbi said Kone hasn’t shown “that he’s capable” of being part of Marseille’s squad.
Ismael Kone has endured testing times this season (Omar Vega/Getty Images)
How will Kone’s career be impacted?
First, on the club side: Kone is looking for a loan for the remainder of the 2024-25 season before a permanent move from Marseille this summer. Kone won’t return to Marseille.
Valencia and Werder Bremen are interested in a loan but long term, a move to another Bundesliga side remains a credible option. Kone’s talent is undeniable. What is important for Kone is finding a team where he can be given room to mature and grow with a club that is comfortable being patient. That’s why a move to Germany, where young players are often given the right environment to develop, makes sense.
What does it all mean for Kone’s short-term national team future?
There are enough people within the national team who believe in his long-term potential, too. But Marsch will be smart about how he handles a player who is low on confidence. The spotlight felt a little too bright for Kone at Copa America. Will Marsch shove him right back into that spotlight in a Nations League tournament that offers even less margin for error?
Or could he ease him in with minutes off the bench in the hopes Kone’s nose for goal provides a late-game spark?
The latter seems more likely. That means Marsch will need a replacement in the middle of the park. Normally Mathieu Choiniere would get the nod but he’s dealing with an injury and hasn’t played since Dec. 7.
Two players to keep an eye on over the next few weeks: Jonathan Osorio and Niko Sigur.
Osorio, 32, is the wily veteran Marsch would need to settle things down should the game against Mexico get frantic. But will Osorio play enough through his first four MLS games to hit the ground running when he is called into the Canada camp?
The wild card in midfield — and the player Marsch might want to succeed in that role — is Sigur. The national team love his cunning on the ball. There’s an edge in the 21-year-old’s game, and he’s been showing that in a way other Canadian midfielders haven’t: with regular starts for his club side Hajduk Split.
Don’t be shocked if Sigur makes his first Canada start this March.
Goalkeeper battle looming
One question that isn’t getting asked enough: who is going to be Canada’s starting goalkeeper in 2025 and then, you would think, the 2026 World Cup?
Popular thinking always gave the nod to Maxime Crepeau. The 30-year-old had long served as the backup to Milan Borjan, even if Crepeau probably offered more speed and athleticism. Crepeau was due for his moment in the sun.
And Crepeau had many of those moments through Copa America, including stopping Lionel Messi from in close and keeping Canada in tight games.
Maxime Crepeau faces a battle to hold onto his place (Elsa/Getty Images)
But will Crepeau get more of those moments? While the goalkeeper battle is healthy and competitive, Dayne St. Clair might have a slight edge over Crepeau. He’s in a better spot with his game at the club level at Minnesota United, is three years younger and offers a little more upside with his shot-stopping abilities. Marsch is likely to lean on is who is performing better and more frequently with their club sides. St. Clair told me recently that he’s been focused on tracking the ball with increased vestibular-focused exercises that “really get my eye to pick up the ball quicker.”
As with many positional battles, what Marsch does for the Nations League will help understand where his head is at for his 2026 starting XI. The semifinal against Mexico on March 20 comes in a must-win, high-pressure environment. Who can he count on?
“It’s the best situation we’ve ever been in,” St. Clair said of him and Crepeau. “We support each other well. It’s a tricky situation. Jesse told us it’s going to be a battle. Just because one guy plays one game, it doesn’t mean the battle is over.”
At the very least, Marsch has not completely decided on his starting goalkeeper — and certainly not in the way some believe Crepeau is a foregone conclusion.
A striker with promise
Rest assured, Marsch is aware of Promise David’s incredible recent ascent.
Over David’s last 11 matches in the Belgian first division for Union Saint-Gilloise, the 23-year-old Brampton-born striker has bagged an impressive six goals and added two assists. That he has adjusted quickly to Belgium after a summer move from Estonia suggests David can new challenges. David will be eligible for Union’s Europa League campaign as of Jan. 31, if they qualify for the next round.
For those unfamiliar, David’s story is remarkable: after originally beginning in Toronto FC’s academy, David has bounced from Croatia to the USL Championship to Malta’s second division. It’s not exactly a route that screams, “National team striker,” but if David keeps up his form, that’s what he will likely end up being.
Can Promise David threaten Cyle Larin’s starting spot? (Rafa Babot/Getty Images)
David’s hulking 6 ft 4 ins (193cm) frame makes for a lethal presence around the box. He won’t contribute to the build-up play the way Jonathan David might. But given Canada’s inability to score in tournaments (four goals in six 2024 Copa America matches) Marsch is well within his rights to consider new options up front.
Promise David’s combination of physicality, ruthlessness around goal being in form gives Marsch something he doesn’t have in spades. David is at his best when he’s holding up play and making life miserable for defenders with his aggressiveness.
Will David battle Cyle Larin for a starting spot? Will David move in front of Tani Oluwaseyi as the first-off-the-bench option?
So much will depend on how David responds to Marsch’s training demands in his first Canada camp.
But David is committed. He is eligible to play for Nigeria through his parent’s birth. David has received inquiries from the Nigeria Football Federation in recent months. But with a World Cup in Canada on the horizon, David has informed Nigeria of his preference to play for his country of birth.
Michel lands on Marsch’s radar
Another player Canada is tracking: Dieu-Merci Michel.
The 20-year-old centre forward was likely to log time with Portuguese first-division side Vitoria’s reserve team this year. But instead, Michel made his first team debut on Dec. 23, 2024, and has since scored three goals in five appearances.
That’s landed him on Marsch’s radar.
I’m not as sure Michel makes the March roster as I am with Promise David. But he could. Canada’s depth at the No. 9 position needs bolstering.
Again, another incredible story here: Michel grew up experiencing homelessness, with his parents having him sleep in boxing gyms for long stretches. Michel and his family bounced between various Canadian cities including Montreal and Calgary before landing in Edmonton.
After his career took off as a youth player in Edmonton, Michel trialled at Bayern Munich, Club Brugge, Sporting Lisbon. Given that Michel was not 18 at the time and did not have a European passport, none of those trials resulted in firm offers. Michel was far too lanky and his movements didn’t always feature proper coordination.
But Vitoria were convinced. They believed Michel would add muscle and offered him a long-term plan for his development. That Michel could speak Portuguese aided in his development.
Michel’s raw athleticism, dominance in the air and ability to finish his chances have seen him stick with the first team.
Others have taken note. Michel could play for Angola through his parents’ place of birth. The Angolan Football Federation asked Michel to represent Angola during their World Cup qualifiers in March.
Michel would prefer to represent Canada but has yet to make a final decision regarding his international eligibility.
The goal for Michel is to become the starting striker for Vitoria next season. If he can, a spot on the 2026 squad might look more feasible.
All in on Gold Cup
I had convinced myself that Canada’s Gold Cup roster this summer would be entirely dependent on their results in the Nations League Finals. If they win the March tournament, I thought, the pressure to nab a trophy this year could be lessened come the summer’s Gold Cup. Marsch — a huge fan of developing and playing youth — would go heavy on untested talent.
I was wrong.
Canada will hope to at least match its brave Copa America performance at this summer’s Gold Cup (Charly Triballeau/AFP via Getty Images)
Despite some of Canada’s best players, including Davies, likely not being available thanks to the Club World Cup, Marsch could field as strong a roster as possible for the Gold Cup. It could make for a busy year for Canada’s squad. But the opportunities to play together before 2026 are few and far between.
Does that mean a Gold Cup roster free of Canadian teenagers? Not necessarily. Keep an eye on 16-year-old Shola Jimoh. It wouldn’t be surprising if the York United forward gets called into the June camp.
CPL eyes expansion
While we’re talking about the Canadian Premier League, allow me to pour cold water on recent speculation: Kingston, Ontario’s municipal government explored a proposal this month to build a multi-sport stadium and bring a pro soccer team to the city — but it likely won’t be a CPL team.
If Kingston approves the stadium proposal, it’s more likely that a semi-pro League One Ontario team plays there at first.
The CPL simply has larger markets in mind for expansion. They are invested in and hopeful of expanding by two teams for 2026: one team in western Canada and another in eastern Canada. The hope is that with an even split of five teams at each end of the massive country, teams would play more games within their region. Travel costs would then be reduced if teams don’t have to fly thousands of kilometres regularly.
It’s a diligent and effective move for the league to grow and maintain sustainability.
Ahmed may be in line for a move
The MLS transfer window opens on January 31. One Canada player I wondered who might move this winter after a strong Copa America is Vancouver Whitercaps midfielder Ali Ahmed. His pace and drive make him a wide player with serious potential.
Ahmed has earned interest from English Championship clubs as well as clubs in Bundesliga and Serie A. One English Championship club began getting serious about a possible move but the two sides were simply too far away on any kind of offer for Ahmed.
Ahmed is under contract until the end of this MLS season. The Whitecaps hold a one-year club option. If the Whitecaps have a strong season as they did in 2024 and are in contention for MLS playoffs in 2025, moving Ahmed in the summer might be difficult for Vancouver. If Ahmed can build off an upstart 2024 season, a move in a year seems more feasible. Look for European-based clubs who need a wide player midway through the season to pounce on Ahmed if they believe he can provide an immediate impact.
(Top photo: Alexandra Beier/AFP via Getty Images)
