Canada Soccer Names Squad for 2026 Concacaf U-20 Championship

Canada Soccer has announced a 21-player squad for the 2026 Concacaf U-20 Championship. The tournament, running from 24 July to 9 August in Mexico, doubles as direct qualification for both the 2027 FIFA U-20 World Cup and the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, in addition to being the marquee tournament for men’s U-20 teams in the region. ​

The four semi-finalists will secure their places at the 2027 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan, while the highest-finishing Concacaf nation outside the United States, which has already qualified as Olympic hosts, will claim the region's second berth at the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. The tournament champion, along with the top finisher from each of Concacaf's Caribbean, Central American, and North American zones, will also qualify for the 2027 Pan American Games in Lima.

Canada booked its place at the Championship by winning Group F at the 2026 Concacaf U-20 Qualifiers in Managua, Nicaragua, posting three wins from four matches to finish top of the standings. CANM20 opened with a 14-0 victory over the US Virgin Islands, followed by an 8-0 win against Martinique and a 2-0 win over Aruba, before closing group play with a 1-0 loss to hosts Nicaragua. The team finished qualifying with a plus-23 goal difference, scoring 24 goals and conceding just once across the four matches.

“We’re excited for this team to get the chance to compete for World Cup and Olympic Games qualification on the same trip. That's exactly the kind of challenge this age group should experience, against good opposition, and this time also in a demanding environment.” ​ - Kenneth Heiner-Møller, Canada Soccer Sporting Director

Canada will be coached in the Concacaf U-20 Championship by Jesse Marsch, Mauro Biello, Andrew Olivieri and Andrea Di Pietrantonio, ensuring strong connectivity between the youth programs and senior level as the senior men’s program begins a new World Cup cycle.

"This is an important tournament for our program, and for the future of Canadian soccer. Every match here carries direct consequences for a World Cup and an Olympic Games. I'm grateful to work alongside Mauro, Andrew and Andrea, whose experience with these players and this pathway will be invaluable." - Jesse Marsch, Head Coach of Canada Soccer’s Men’s National Team

Canada was drawn into Group C alongside Honduras, Panama, and Jamaica. The team opens play against Panama on Sunday, 26 July, followed by Honduras on Wednesday 29 July and Jamaica on Saturday, 1 August. All three group stage matches will be played at Estadio Universitario BUAP in Puebla. The top two teams from each of the three groups, along with the two best third-place finishers, advance to the knockout stage. The quarterfinals (4-5 August) and semifinals (7 August) take place at Estadio Cuauhtémoc in Puebla, with the final on 9 August at Estadio Banorte in Mexico City.

BROADCAST INFORMATION ​

The 2026 Concacaf U-20 Championship will air live in Canada on OneSoccer. OneSoccer is available via the fuboTV Canada streaming service, as a linear channel on TELUS Optik TV (Ch. 980), and online at OneSoccer.ca and through the OneSoccer app. Fans will also find extended coverage across Canada Soccer’s digital channels, including Instagram, X, Facebook, BlueSky, TikTok, and YouTube, using the hashtag #CANM20.

CANM20 SQUAD

ALTERNATES: Marsel Bibishkov (Vancouver FC), Valter Sedin (Hammarby IF)