Canada
\u200bSoccer have announced the Men’s National Team roster for the opening matches of
\u200bits FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ Qualifiers campaign. Canada is preparing to host
\u200bBermuda on Thursday 25 March at Exploria Stadium in Orlando, FL, USA before
\u200bfacing Cayman Islands on Sunday 28 March at the IMG Sports Complex in
\u200bBradenton, FL, USA. The two matches will kick off the road to Qatar 2022 and
\u200bmark a highly anticipated return to competitive match action for Canada
\u200bSoccer’s Men’s National Team following an extended break due to the ongoing
\u200bCovid-19 pandemic.
“The
\u200bsquad selection shows the commitment of the players, how they feel about these
\u200bgames, representing Canada and how important the games are for the country,
\u200bsaid Head Coach John Herdman. “Having been apart for so long, we’re focused on
\u200bbeing able to connect and ensuring we get the tactical clarity over the short
\u200bwindow we have leading into the start of qualifying. It’s about the off-field
\u200bconnection and getting the guys comfortable being together again.”
Both
\u200bmatches in the March FIFA window will be played in closed-door environments and
\u200bwill be broadcast live on OneSoccer with the
\u200bCanada-Bermuda match set to kick off at 20.00 ET / 17.00 PT and Canada-Cayman
\u200bIslands at 16.00 ET / 13.00 PT. Fans will find extended coverage across Canada
\u200bSoccer’s digital channels on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube featuring
\u200bthe hashtag #CANMNT.
Canada
\u200bSoccer recently announced that it would host the opening match of its Qatar 2022
\u200bqualifying campaign against Bermuda on 25 March at Exploria Stadium in Orlando,
\u200bFL, USA. The venue is familiar to Canada Soccer’s National Teams as the Men’s
\u200bNational Team trained and played at the stadium in November 2019 as part of
\u200bConcacaf Nations League A and most recently it was the site of the She Believes Cup featuring the Women’s National Team.
“While
\u200bwe would have loved to be playing at home where we have been very difficult to
\u200bbeat, what we’ve been able to do here in Orlando is control the conditions so
\u200bthat our players can impose our approach to the match,” said Herdman.
Canada
\u200bhas been drawn into Group B with Aruba, Bermuda, Cayman Islands and Suriname as
\u200bpart of the First Round of the Concacaf FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ Qualifiers
\u200band will face each nation once, playing a total of four matches in this stage,
\u200bwith only the group winner advancing to the Second Round. Following its March
\u200bmatches, Canada is scheduled to face Aruba on 5 June and host Suriname on 8
\u200bJune. In all, 30 Concacaf nations are competing across six groups in this First
\u200bRound.
\u200b
\u200bFrom the First Round of FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™
\u200bQualifiers, the Group B winner will face the Group E winner in a Second Round,
\u200bhead-to-head series on 12 and 15 June 2021. The winner from that Second Round
\u200bthen advances to the Concacaf Final Round of eight nations scheduled to begin
\u200bin the Fall of 2021.
“It
\u200bis an opportunity for this group of men to do something special for their
\u200bcountry that hasn’t been done for a long time,” said Herdman. “Our players do
\u200bnot need much motivation, they’re just really excited to play for their country
\u200bagain and every time we’re together we remind them that this team can change
\u200bfootball in this nation.”
In all, Canada Soccer’s Men’s National Team face a busy international
\u200bschedule in 2021 that includes the four competitive matches in FIFA World Cup
\u200bQatar 2022™ Qualifiers in March and June. Also, in March, Canada Soccer’s Men’s
\u200bU-23 National Team is competing at the Concacaf Men’s Olympic Qualifying in
\u200bGuadalajara, Mexico. In July, Canada Soccer’s Men’s National Team are scheduled
\u200bto compete in the Concacaf Gold Cup with group stage matches against
\u200bMartinique, USA and a yet-to-be determined third opponent.
CANADA SQUAD
\u200bThe Canada roster features a mix of established veterans and young players who will be embarking on their first FIFA World Cup Qualifiers campaign.
Canada Soccer’s 2020 Player of the Year Alphonso Davies is set
\u200bto return to Canadian colours for the first time following an incredible year
\u200bof personal and club achievements. With Davies playing a crucial role, FC Bayern München captured a historic six trophies in 2020 including the
\u200bUEFA Champions League, FIFA Club World Cup, Bundesliga Title, DFB Cup, UEFA
\u200bSuper Cup, and German Super Cup. Individually, Davies was recognized for his
\u200boutstanding play as he was named co-winner of the 2020 Lou Marsh Memorial
\u200bTrophy as Canada’s outstanding athlete, the Lionel Conacher Award as the
\u200bCanadian Press Male Athlete of the Year, and the Postmedia Canadian Male Athlete
\u200bof the Year Award.
Veteran midfielder and six-time Canada Soccer Player of the
\u200bYear, Atiba Hutchison, will return to action for Canada looking to build on his
\u200b84 appearances wearing the maple leaf on the international stage over his
\u200billustrious career. Hutchison is joined by his Be\u015fikta\u015f
\u200bteammate Cyle Larin with the duo combining to push their club to top of the
\u200bSúper Lig table in Turkey.
Goalkeeper Milan Borjan of FK Crvena
\u200bzvezda (Red Star Belgrade in Serbia), midfielder Sam
\u200bPiette of CF Montreal (Canada), and forward Junior Hoilett of Cardiff City
\u200b(Wales) are among the veterans who will bring previous FIFA World Cup
\u200bQualifying experience to the squad.
In total, the players named to Canada’s roster have made 343 appearances for their country. Returning members of the squad include goalkeeper Maxime Crépeau (Vancouver Whitecaps FC); defenders Steven Vitória (Moreirense FC), Kamal Miller (CF Montreal), Richie Laryea (Toronto FC), and Samuel Adekugbe (Vålerenga Fotball); midfielders, Mark-Anthony Kaye (Los Angeles FC), Stephen Eustáquio (F.C. Paços de Ferreira), David Wotherspoon (St. Johnstone FC), and Jayden Nelson (Toronto FC); and forwards Liam Millar (Charlton Athletic FC) and Lucas Cavallini (Vancouver Whitecaps FC).
Defender Ricardo Ferreira receives his first call-up to Canada Soccer’s Men’s National Team following his change of national associations in February, and will be joined by 18-year old Theo Corbeanu of Woverhampton Wanderers FC in participating in their first Canada camp. Including Ferreira and Corbeanu, there are a total of seven players in Canada’s squad who will be looking to make their first international “A” appearance. Other potential debutants are Dayne St. Clair of Minnesota United (USA), Frank Sturing of FC Den Bosch (Netherlands), Joel Waterman of CF Montreal (Canada), Alistair Johnston of Nashville SC (USA), and Cristian Gutierrez of Vancouver Whitecaps FC (Canada), all five of whom participated in Canada’s recent January training camp in Florida, USA.
Canada
\u200bSoccer made every effort to secure all Men’s National Team players to
\u200bparticipate in the March FIFA window. However, forward Jonathan David was
\u200bunavailable for the upcoming FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ Qualifiers in Florida.
“It’s
\u200bbeen tough behind the scenes to make sure that players could be available to
\u200bus, but unfortunately it wasn’t possible with Jonathan,” said Herdman.
\u200b“However, we’ll come through these times and see Jonathan back on the pitch for
\u200bCanada in the near future.”
FIFA
\u200bWORLD CUP QATAR 2022™ QUALIFIERS
\u200bConcacaf have established Canada’s pathway for FIFA World Cup
\u200bQatar 2022™ Qualifiers beginning with a First Round being played amongst the
\u200bConcacaf Member Associations ranked 6-35 based on the FIFA Men’s Ranking as of
\u200b16 July 2020. From the first round of FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ Qualifiers,
\u200bthe Group B winner will face the Group E winner in a second-round, head-to-head
\u200bseries. The winner from that second round then advances to the Concacaf Final
\u200bRound of eight nations in which each nation will play each opponent twice (once
\u200bat home and once on the road).
CANADA
\u200bGK- Milan Borjan | SRB / FK Crvena zvezda (Red Star Belgrade)
\u200bGK- Maxime
\u200bCrépeau | CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps FC
\u200bGK- Dayne St. Clair | USA / Minnesota United FC
\u200bCB- Ricardo Ferreira |
\u200bCB- Frank Sturing | NED / FC Den Bosch
\u200bCB- Steven Vitória | POR / Moreirense FC
\u200bCB- Joel Waterman | CAN / CF Montréal
\u200bFB- Samuel Adekugbe | NOR / Vålerenga Fotball
\u200bFB- Cristián Gutierrez | CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps FC
\u200bFB- Alistair Johnston | USA / Nashville SC
\u200bFB- Richie Laryea | CAN / Toronto FC
\u200bFB- Kamal Miller | CAN / CF Montréal
\u200bM- Theo Corbeanu | ENG / Wolverhampton Wanderers FC
\u200bM- Stephen Eustáquio | POR / FC Paços de Ferreira
\u200bM- Atiba Hutchinson | TUR / Be\u015fikta\u015f JK
\u200bM- Mark-Anthony Kaye | USA / Los Angeles FC
\u200bM- Jayden Nelson | CAN / Toronto FC
\u200bM- Samuel Piette | CAN / CF Montréal
\u200bM- David Wotherspoon | SCO / St. Johnstone FC
\u200bF- Lucas Cavallini | CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps FC
\u200bF- Alphonso Davies | GER / FC Bayern München
\u200bF- David Junior Hoilett | WAL / Cardiff City FC
\u200bF- Cyle Larin | TUR / Be\u015fikta\u015f JK
\u200bF- Liam Millar | ENG / Charlton Athletic FC
CANADA
\u200bA-Z
\u200bAdekugbe, Samuel | 26 | Calgary, AB, CAN | Manchester United Grassroots
\u200bBorjan, Milan | 33 | Hamilton, ON, CAN | Radnicki JP
\u200bCavallini, Lucas | 28 | Mississauga, ON, CAN | Club Uruguay Toronto
\u200bCorbeanu, Theo | 18 | Hamilton, ON, CAN | Quinndale YS
\u200bCrépeau, Maxime | 26 | Candiac, QC, CAN | Ligue de soccer pour enfants de
\u200bCandiac
\u200bDavies, Alphonso | 20 | Edmonton, AB, CAN | Edmonton Inter
\u200bEustáquio, Stephen | 24 | Leamington, ON, CAN | Leamington Minor Soccer (house
\u200bleague)
\u200bFerreira, Ricardo | 28 | Mississauga, ON, CAN | Dixie SC
\u200bGutierrez, Cristián | 24 | Santiago, CHI | Escuela CSD Colo-Colo
\u200bHoilett, David Junior | 30 | Brampton, ON, CAN | Mississauga SC
\u200bHutchinson, Atiba | 38 | Brampton, ON, CAN | Brampton YSC
\u200bJohnston, Alistair | 22 | Aurora, ON, CAN | Lakeshore SC
\u200bKaye, Mark-Anthony | 26 | Toronto, ON, CAN | Wexford SC
\u200bLarin, Cyle | 25 | Brampton, ON, CAN | Brampton YSC
\u200bLaryea, Richie | 26 | Toronto, ON, CAN | Club Uruguay Toronto
\u200bMillar, Liam | 21 | Brampton, ON, CAN | Brampton YSC
\u200bMiller, Kamal | 23 | Scarborough, ON, CAN | Malvern SC
\u200bNelson, Jayden | 18 | Brampton, ON, CAN | Brampton YSC
\u200bPiette, Samuel | 26 | Le Gardeur, QC, CAN | Lionceaux de le Gardeur
\u200bSt. Clair, Dayne | 23 | Pickering, ON, CAN | Ephinay Church Soccer League
\u200bSturing, Frank | 23 | Nijmegen, NED | Oranje Blauw
\u200bVitória, Steven | 34 | Mississauga, ON, CAN | Sudbury Lions
\u200bWaterman, Joel | 25 | Langley, BC, CAN | Aldergrove YSA
\u200bWotherspoon, David | 31 | Bridge of Earn, SCO |