CanMNT notebook: Marsch's men gearing up for important friendlies

The Canadian men's national team returns to action for the first time since January when it plays Iceland (March 28) and Tunisia (March 31) in a pair of international friendlies at BMO Field.

Coach Jesse Marsch has put together a 26-man roster for this month's international window, which will be the penultimate time the team gets together prior to the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The Canadians' final World Cup tuneup matches are against Uzbekistan in Edmonton on June 1 and Ireland in Montreal on June 5.

Here are some news and notes from the team's practice on Tuesday at the BMO Training Ground.  

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80 days out to start of FIFA World Cup for Canada  

It's starting to feel very real for the Canadian men's team, who is now 80 days out from playing its opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. 

The city of Toronto and Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment announced on Tuesday that all major upgrades to BMO Field have been completed for the World Cup. The second phase of the construction project included the installation of temporary seating expansion, increasing the total seating capacity of the venue to 45,000. It also included new pitch, dugout and player areas, and additional hospitality spaces. 

Marsch's side will get a first-hand glimpse of the new-look BMO Field during Saturday's match vs. Iceland, another reminder of just how close the World Cup is for Les Rouges. 

"We're calm, focused and ready. We're taking every day for what it's worth, and then the focus and concentration is to try to make sure that we're ready for two really good performances, and this window is very high. And that is the overall objective, is to stay in the moment and really continue the process of the team," Marsch said after Tuesday's practice. 

He later added: “We know what's happening. We know what's coming. I think they want to put their best foot forward, to give them all the best chance possible to make the team, keep good form for when the World Cup comes. Every guy has a little bit of a different situation and a little bit of a different objective. But again, we're calm and we're focusing on being the team that we know we are." 

Injuries to lead opportunities for others 

Missing from this latest Canadian roster due to injuries are fullback Alphonso Davies, midfielder Stephen Eustáquio, defenders Alfie Jones, Zorhan Bassong and Jamie Knight-Lebel, winger Jacob Shaffelburg, and forwards Promise David and Theo Bair.   

Other notable absences include midfielder Jayden Nelson, goalkeeper James Pantemis, defender Sam Adekugbe, and forward Charles-Andreas Brym.  

With so many regulars not here, these next two games could give potential opportunities to fringe players to make one final claim for a spot on the World Cup squad. 

"I think Ralph Priso had a really good start to the season. I think Jahkeele [Marshall-Rutty] has done well so far to start the season as well. So, it's a good chance for them to come into the group, and then all the other guys really know what we're about and how we do things," Jesse Marsch said. 

"Of course, we want to get ourselves back for the summer to 100 per cent but this is all part of it, and we've really used all of the injuries and when players are missing as opportunities for new guys to establish themselves. If you look at Niko Sigur and Nathan Saliba and Tani [Oluwaseyi] and a bunch of different guys that have really elevated themselves when they've gotten opportunities, and that'll be the case again." 

Big things expected of Ismaël Koné 

With Stephen Eustáquio unavailable for this window due to injury, fellow midfielder Ismaël Koné has an opportunity to reassert himself as a key figure for Canada going into the World Cup. 

The 23-year-old has started in six of Canada's last seven games, scoring in last November's 2-0 win over Venezuela in Florida.

At the same time, Koné's club career has been revitalized at US Sassuolo Calcio after he failed to impress in stints with French clubs Olympique Marseille and Stade Rennais FC. The 23-year-old has five goals in 28 appearances in all competitions this season and looks to have recaptured his best form while playing in Italy. 

"I think Ismaël now is an established player, and in the two years that I've been here, he's now understood more what higher levels look like, and how to be more reliable and disciplined. And I think he's been outstanding at Sassuolo, and not just with the ball, but his defensive responsibilities, his intensity that he plays with is at a different level," Jesse Marsch said. 

Koné will be suspended for the Iceland game stemming from a red card vs. Venezuela, but he will see action against Tunisia. 

"We will definitely play him against Tunisia, and we expect him to be a cornerstone of what we do this summer as well," Marsch offered. 

Injury report: Luc de Fougerolles sidelined

Defender Luc de Fougerolles worked out on his own away from the rest of the team on Thursday. The 20-year-old centre back recently sustained an ankle injury while on duty at F.C.V. Dender E.H. in the Belgian league. Jesse Marsch said he hoped the young defender would be involved in full training on Wednesday.

Defenders Alistair Johnston and Moïse Bombito have been named to Canada's squad this month but only as training players while they regain fitness from long-term injuries. Johnston took part in portions of Tuesday's training session while Bombito worked out on his own. Johnston is expected to be involved in full training on Wednesday.

Goalkeeper Maxime Crépeau didn't take part in today's training as he recently took a knock. Marsch said he should be involved in tomorrow's practice.

All of the other players called by Marsch for this international window are in camp in Toronto.

Odds and ends: Alphonso Davies trending in right direction

• Jesse Marsch indicated that captain Alphonso Davies is trending in the right direction after recently suffering an injury setback at Bayern Munich. Marsch said: "He's doing well. He was back on the pitch last week, just doing some individual stuff. I think he'll be with [Bayern] again once they get back going again, and he's likely to be even eligible for their first match once they start getting back together. So, he's in a good way."
• Marsch revealed that he'll have scouts in attendance for the World Cup playoff qualifiers this week between Italy and Northern Ireland and Wales and Bosnia. Canada plays the Group A path winner in its opening match at the World Cup on June 12 in Toronto. Canada will also have scouts at the upcoming friendlies for Switzerland and Qatar, its other group stage opponents.
• Former Canadian international Paul Stalteri (84 caps, seven goals) was helping out Marsch and his coaching staff during Thursday's training session.  
• Canada Soccer's Kevin Blue (CEO & general secretary), Peter Augruso (president) and Kenneth Heiner-Møller (sporting director, national teams) were in attendance for Thursday's practice.
• Despite the wintery conditions in Toronto, the team practised outside on one of the natural grass pitches; not on the artificial surface under the bubble at the BMO Training Ground. 

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Looking ahead to Saturday's game vs. Iceland          

Canada is 29th in the current FIFA world rankings, well above Tunisia (No. 47) and Iceland (No. 74). Tunisia will compete in its seventh World Cup this summer, while Iceland failed to qualify.   

Canada has an all-time record of two losses and two draws against Iceland dating back to their first meeting in 2007. Their last encounter ended in a 1-0 win for Iceland on Jan. 15, 2020 in Irvine, California.   

Included in Iceland's roster for this month's FIFA window is former Tottenham midfielder Gylfi Sigurðsson and current CF Montreal defender Dagur Dan Þórhallsson. The Icelandic team is coming off a 4-0 friendly loss to Mexico in Querétaro last month.  

Canada will more than likely see more of the ball in these two games against teams who are expected to defend in a low block. 

"Even today, we worked a lot on final third and final third entry moments and stuff like this, so that we can be a little bit sharper in the final third. But again, I know we have quality, right? You see today, like some of the goals that get scored, you have [Daniel] Jebbison out there; Cyle [Larin] is in top form. I thought [Aribim Pepple] had a good day. ... We have some weapons. So, that's exciting. We'll be ready to perform and have two really good performances and push to get really, two really good wins in these two matches," Jesse Marsch said.  

Iceland will also play Haiti on May 31 at BMO Field. 

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