Canada's Alphonso Davies returns for Nations League quarterfinal against Guatemala
The Canadian men's team will be without several regulars, including Cyle Larin, for the two-legged series.
Captain Alphonso Davies headlines Canada's roster for its CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinal against Guatemala this month. Head coach Jesse Marsch unveiled his 23-player squad on Tuesday. Davies returns after missing three September and October friendlies for his honeymoon. The Bayern Munich defender played sparingly at the World Cup while recovering from a hamstring injury. He has three goals and three assists in 13 club appearances this season.
Goalkeeper Maxime Crépeau is also back with the team after missing the fall matches following his father's death. The squad will be without several injured regulars. Marseille centre back Derek Cornelius suffered a hip injury in late September training with Canada and was hospitalized. Celtic right-back Alistair Johnston is dealing with a hamstring issue, and Southampton striker Cyle Larin is out with an undisclosed ailment.
The two-legged series opens on Nov. 13 when 27th-ranked Canada visits 95th-ranked Guatemala. The return leg is scheduled for Nov. 16 at Toronto's BMO Field. "This is an important window for us," Marsch said in a release. "There's a Nations League Finals place and a Gold Cup spot on the line, and we know how tough it will be to go to Guatemala City and get a result. We want to take care of business there, then come home to BMO Field and finish the job in front of our fans."
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The series winner qualifies directly for the 2027 CONCACAF Gold Cup and earns a spot in the 2027 Nations League Finals in Los Angeles. The loser must enter the Gold Cup preliminary round. Canada received a bye into the quarterfinals as one of the region's top four teams alongside Mexico, the United States and Panama. Guatemala is making its first quarterfinal appearance after winning its qualifying group.
Guatemala's final qualifier, a 1-0 win over Suriname on Oct. 5, resulted in sanctions from CONCACAF. The governing body punished the Guatemalan Football Association for "multiple incidents" including "discriminatory chants directed at Suriname players by Guatemala supporters, objects thrown onto the field of play, and players’ involvement in a post-match confrontation." Players Jonathan Franco and Carlos Estrada received three-game suspensions for their roles. Guatemala must also close 25 per cent of its stadium for its next home Nations League match and submit an anti-discrimination plan.
Marsch's roster includes goalkeepers Maxime Crépeau, Owen Goodman and Dayne St. Clair. The defenders are Richard Chukwu, Alphonso Davies, Luc de Fougerolles, Jovan Ivanisevic, Richie Laryea, Ralph Priso, Niko Sigur and Joel Waterman. Midfielders selected are Tajon Buchanan, Mathieu Choinière, Kevin Khan, Liam Millar, Jonathan Osorio, Nathan Saliba and Jacob Shaffelburg. The forwards are Jonathan David, Promise David, Daniel Jebbison, Tani Oluwaseyi and Jacen Russell-Rowe.
With files from The Canadian Press, CBC News and Sportsnet