Canada Soccer have announced their squad for the upcoming Men’s International Friendly match against New Zealand on 24 March during the FIFA match window. Head Coach John Herdman will gather his squad for the one-week camp in Murcia, Spain with players arriving from their respective professional clubs as early as this Sunday.
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\u200bFans can watch the 24 March match live via CanadaSoccer.com kicking off at 16.00 local / 11.00 ET / 06.00 PT. In addition, exclusive behind-the scenes content will be available on Canada Soccer’s digital channels including Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube from the time the team assembles in camp to their departure back to their professional environments.
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\u200b“This match provides a great opportunity to be face to face with members of the Men’s National Team Program and establish the foundations and relationships that will align Canada’s Men’s National Team Program towards a goal of consistent winning performances,” said Herdman. “The players believe that we can do this and that with the right plan we can deliver. Our players are looking forward to making that commitment and pushing themselves to levels that they have never reached before.”
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\u200bThis marks Herdman first Men’s National Team camp and he has called in a strong mix of veteran leadership and emerging young talent. Key returning players include Milan Borjan, Atiba Hutchinson, Dejan Jakovi\u0107, Samuel Piette, and Tosaint Ricketts, all with 35 or more appearances at the international level. Also included in the squad are Scott Arfield of Premier League side Burnley FC, Cyle Larin of Turkish champions Be\u015fikta\u015f JK, and Jonathan Osorio of MLS Cup champions Toronto FC.
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\u200bHutchinson, who plays alongside Larin at Be\u015fikta\u015f JK, is a six-time Canadian Player of the Year and ranks tied for fifth all-time in Canadian international appearances. After leading his club to back-to-back SuperLig titles in 2015-16 and 2016-17, he helped Be\u015fikta\u015f JK reached the Round of 16 in 2017-18 UEFA Champions League action.
The squad also includes three debutants getting their first call up to the Men’s National Team: centre back Derek Cornelius, fullback Marcus Godinho, and winger Liam Millar. Cornelius, Godinho, and Millar have all come up through Canada Soccer’s national youth program, with Millar the youngest at just 18 years old.
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\u200bThe squad features players coming in from club teams in Canada, USA, and across Europe. David Edgar has his first call up to the Men’s National Team since November 2016, having missed the 2017 season through injury.
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\u200bThe March match is Canada’s first of the 2018 international season, one which will build towards a new cycle of FIFA World Cup Qualifiers on the road to Qatar 2022. Taking advantage of the FIFA international window while staying in Europe where many professional players are in the crux of their 2017-18 season, Canada will have a chance to face a solid international opponent in New Zealand.
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\u200bCANADA SQUAD
\u200bGK- Milan Borjan | SRB / FK Crvena Zvezda (Red Star Belgrade)
\u200bGK- Jayson Leutwiler | ENG / Blackburn Rovers
\u200bGK- Simon Thomas | NOR / FK Bodø/Glimt
\u200bCB- Derek Cornelius | SRB / FK Javor Ivanjica
\u200bCB- David Edgar | Unattached / sans club
\u200bCB- Dejan Jakovi\u0107 | USA / Los Angeles FC
\u200bCB- Manjrekar James | HUN / Vasas Budapest
\u200bFB- Samuel Adekugbe | NOR / Vålerenga Fotball
\u200bFB- Marcus Godinho | SCO / Heart of Midlothian FC
\u200bFB- Ashtone Morgan | CAN / Toronto FC
\u200bFB- Michael Petrasso | CAN / Impact de Montréal
\u200bM- Tesho Akindele | USA / FC Dallas
\u200bM- Scott Arfield | ENG / Burnley FC
\u200bM- Jay Chapman | CAN / Toronto FC
\u200bM- Raheem Edwards | CAN / Impact de Montréal
\u200bM- Atiba Hutchinson | TUR / Be\u015fikta\u015f JK
\u200bM- Mark-Anthony Kaye | USA / Los Angeles FC
\u200bM- Liam Millar | ENG / Liverpool FC
\u200bM- Jonathan Osorio | CAN / Toronto FC
\u200bM- Samuel Piette | CAN / Impact de Montréal
\u200bF- Cyle Larin | TUR / Be\u015fikta\u015f JK
\u200bF- Tosaint Ricketts | CAN / Toronto FC
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\u200bCANADA A-Z
\u200bPlayer | Age | Where he grew up | Active start/first club
\u200bAdekugbe, Samuel | 23 | Calgary, AB, CAN | Manchester United Grassroots
\u200bAkindele, Tesho | 25 | Thornton, CO, USA | Mississauga
\u200bArfield, Scott | 29 | Livingston, SCO | Murieston Boys Club
\u200bBorjan, Milan | 30 | Hamilton, ON, CAN | Radnicki JP
\u200bChapman, Jay | 24 | Campbellford, ON, CAN | Brampton East SC
\u200bCornelius, Derek | 20 | Ajax, ON, CAN | Ajax House League
\u200bEdgar, David | 30 | Kitchener, ON, CAN | Kitchener Minor SA
\u200bEdwards, Raheem | 22 | Toronto, ON, CAN | Erin Mills SC
\u200bGodinho, Marcus | 20 | Toronto, ON, CAN | North York Azzurri
\u200bHutchinson, Atiba | 35 | Brampton, ON, CAN | Brampton YSC
\u200bJakovi\u0107, Dejan | 32 | Etobicoke, ON, CAN | Rexdale SC
\u200bJames, Manjrekar | 24 | North York, ON, CAN | North York Azzurri
\u200bKaye, Mark-Anthony | 23 | Toronto, ON, CAN | Wexford SC
\u200bLarin, Cyle | 22 | Brampton, ON, CAN | Brampton YSC
\u200bLeutwiler, Jayson | 28 | Neuchâtel, SUI | FC Cornaux
\u200bMillar, Liam | 18 | Brampton, ON, CAN | Brampton YSC
\u200bMorgan, Ashtone | 27 | Toronto, ON, CAN | West End United
\u200bOsorio, Jonathan | 25 | Brampton, ON, CAN | Toronto Futsal League
\u200bPetrasso, Michael | 22 | Woodbridge, ON, CAN | Kleinburg SC
\u200bPiette, Samuel | 23 | Le Gardeur, QC, CAN | Lionceaux de le Gardeur
\u200bRicketts, Tosaint | 30 | Edmonton, AB, CAN | Edmonton Juventus
\u200bThomas, Simon | 27 | Victoria, BC, CAN | Bays United SC
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\u200bCONCACAF NATIONS LEAGUE
\u200bCanada are already looking forward to the upcoming Concacaf Nations League Qualifying competition that kicks off September 2018. Concacaf Nations League, the new national team competition platform created to maximize the match dates presented within the FIFA international calendar, features a 68-match schedule with Canada playing U.S. Virgin Islands away in September 2018, Dominica at home in October 2018, St. Kitts & Nevis away in November 2018, and French Guiana at home in March 2019.
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\u200bThe Concacaf Nations League has been created to provide an avenue for more meaningful and quality international soccer matches while uniting the Concacaf region through competition. The 2018-19 Concacaf Nations League Qualifying matches serve as a qualification route to both the next Concacaf Gold Cup in the Summer of 2019 and the respective classification groups to Concacaf Nations League in the Fall of 2019.
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\u200bCanada are two-time Concacaf champions, having won the Concacaf Championship in 1985 and the Concacaf Gold Cup in 2000. In winning the 1985 CONCACAF Championship, Canada qualified for the 1986 FIFA World Cup Mexico™; in winning the 2000 Concacaf Gold Cup, Canada qualified for the FIFA Confederations Cup Korea/Japan 2001.
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\u200bCANADA SOCCER’S WOMEN’S NATIONAL TEAM IN HAMILTON
\u200bCanadian soccer fans are encouraged to watch Canada Soccer’s Women’s National Team live in Hamilton, Ontario on 10 June at Tim Hortons Field. The Sunday afternoon match features Canada’s Olympic bronze medalists against the Rio 2016 Olympic champions Germany. Tickets to the international match start as low as $20 (plus applicable fees) and fans can once again take advantage of a special ‘Me+3’ offer in select sections. Groups of 10+ are eligible for discounts of up to 30% off regular priced tickets.
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\u200bFor complete ticket information visit migmultidev-canada-soccer.pantheonsite.io/tickets.