Canada Soccer announces squad for FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™
Men's National Team canadasoccer.com November 12, 2022
Canada Soccer have announced the official squad that will represent the nation at the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™. Led by Head Coach John Herdman, Canada’s brotherhood of 26 players have united the country from coast to coast on their quest for Qatar and are set to inspire a nation on the world’s biggest stage. Following a 20-match run that qualified the Men’s National Team to the FIFA World Cup for the first time in 36 years, Canada will now continue their pioneering journey when they take to the pitch for their opening match on Wednesday 23 November at Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium.
After an opening match against Belgium, Canada will face Croatia four days later on Sunday 27 November at Khalifa International Stadium and then Morocco another four days later on Thursday 1 December at Al Thumama Stadium to close out the group phase. In Canada, the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ will be broadcast live across CTV, TSN and RDS from 20 November through 18 December, with the knockout phase starting Saturday 3 December. Complete coverage of Canada Soccer’s FIFA World Cup journey will be published at CanadaSoccer.com and across our digital channels.
To support and inspire Canada Soccer’s Men’s National Team, the #WeCAN campaign encourages Canadians to post a video featuring the words ‘We Can’ along with at least one reason why they believe in Canada’s quest at Qatar 2022. At the same time, fans are encouraged to follow Canada Soccer’s digital channels on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, and YouTube to find extended coverage featuring the hashtag #CANMNT.
CANADA SOCCER’S MEN’S NATIONAL TEAM
Canada Soccer’s Men’s National Team are the reigning Kings of Concacaf, having finished first overall in the Concacaf Final Round of FIFA World Cup Qualifiers from September 2021 to March 2022. It marked the third time that Canada Soccer’s Men’s National Team won a Concacaf title, having previously won the 1985 Concacaf Championship and the 2000 Concacaf Gold Cup.
Across FIFA World Cup Qualifiers, Canada posted 14 wins, four draws and just two losses over three rounds as they became the first nation from the region to qualify for Qatar with a 4:0 home win on 27 March 2022 in Toronto. Canada scored a Men’s National Team record 54 goals across the cycle while Cyle Larin set the Canadian record for goals (13), Alphonso Davies set the Canadian record for assists (eight), and Milan Borjan set the Canadian record for clean sheets (nine). Of note, both Larin (13) and Jonathan David (nine) were the top-two goalscorers across all Concacaf nations in 2021-22 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers.
Throughout the qualifying campaign, Canada set numerous team and individual records, also setting a Concacaf record for the longest undefeated streak in a FIFA World Cup Qualifiers campaign. Canada set their own Men’s National Team records for consecutive wins (eight) and longest home undefeated streak (14 matches). In all, 39 different players represented Canada across FIFA World Cup Qualifiers from March 2021 through March 2022.
Canada at the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™
ADEKUGBE, Samuel | 27 | Calgary, AB, CAN
Current club (Turkey) : Hatayspor FC
Youth (England & Canada) : Manchester United, Sir Bobby Charlton Academy, Calgary Foothills SC, Vancouver Whitecaps FC Residency
A three-time Concacaf Team of the Matchday all-star during FIFA World Cup Qualifiers, 27-year old fullback Samuel Adekugbe is now in his second season at Hatayspor FC in Turkey. A former Canadian Championship winner at Vancouver, he scored his first international “A” goal on 30 January 2022 in a win over USA.
BORJAN, Milan | 35 | Hamilton, ON, CAN
Current club (Serbia) : FK Crvena zvezda (Red Star Belgrade)
Youth (Serbia & Canada) : Radnicki JP, Winnipeg Kilcona, Mount Hamilton
An Allstate Canada Soccer Good Hands Award winner, 34-year old goalkeeper Milan Borjan has won club titles in Bulgaria and Serbia in each of the last eight seasons. Canada’s all-time men’s international leader in goalkeeper appearances and clean sheets, he has spent the last six seasons at Red Star Belgrade in Serbia.
BUCHANAN, Tajon | 23 | Brampton, ON, CAN
Current club (Belgium) : Club Brugge KV
Youth (Canada & USA) : Brampton YSC, Mississauga Falcons, Real Colorado
A former Canada Soccer Youth Player of the Year, 23-year old winger Tajon Buchanan has already won club titles in MLS and Belgium. Since winning the Concacaf Gold Cup Young Player Award in 2021, he has made his move to Europe and made his UEFA Champions League debut with Club Brugge KV.
CAVALLINI, Lucas | 29 | Mississauga, ON, CAN
Current club (Canada) : Vancouver Whitecaps FC
Youth (Canada & Uruguay) : Club Uruguay Toronto, Weston SC, North York Hearts SC, Clarkson SC, Club Nacional
A former Canada record holder for men’s international goals in a season, 30-year old forward Lucas Cavallini helped Vancouver Whitecaps FC win the 2022 Canadian Championship. A two-time Whitecaps FC Golden Boot award winner, he co-led all Canadians in 2022 MLS goalscoring alongside Jonathan Osorio.
CORNELIUS, Derek | 24 | Ajax, ON, CAN
Current club (Greece) : Panetolikos FC
Youth (Canada) : Ajax SC, Unionville SC
A former Canada Soccer Youth Player of the Year, the 24-year old centre back Derek Cornelius has played his club football in Canada, Slovakia and Greece. After playing for Vancouver Whitecaps FC in Major League Soccer, he joined Panetolikos FC in the Greek Super League last season.
DAVID, Jonathan | 22 | Ottawa, ON, CAN
Current club (France) : Lille OSC
Youth (Canada) : Ottawa Gloucester Dragons, Ottawa Gloucester Hornets, Ottawa Internationals SC
A one-time Canada Soccer Player of the Year, 22-year old striker Jonathan David is already one of Canada’s top-five all-time international goalscorers. Now in his fifth season in Europe, he is a Ligue 1 winner with France’s Lille OSC and holds the club record for most goals scored in the league.
DAVIES, Alphonso | 22 | Edmonton, AB, CAN
Current club (Germany) : FC Bayern München
Youth (Canada) : Edmonton Inter, Edmonton Strikers, St. Nicholas SA, Vancouver Whitecaps FC Residency
A three-time Canada Soccer Player of the Year, 22-year old winger Alphonso Davies has already won 11 club titles in five seasons with FC Bayern München at both the domestic and international levels. Both a UEFA Champions League and FIFA Club World Cup winner, he was a FIFA FIFPro Men’s World11 selection in 2020.
EUSTÁQUIO, Stephen | 25 | Leamington, ON, CAN
Current club (Portugal) : FC Porto
Youth (Canada & Portugal) : Leamington MS, GD Os Nazarenos, UD de Leiria, SCU Torreense
A former FC Paços de Ferreira club MVP, 25-year old midfielder Stephen Eustáquio has since won multiple club titles at FC Porto in Portugal. A one-time Concacaf Team of the Matchday all-star during FIFA World Cup Qualifiers, he made his UEFA Champions League debut with FC Porto in September 2022.
FRASER, Liam | 24 | Vancouver, BC & Toronto, ON, CAN
Current club (Belgium) : KMSK Deinze
Youth (Canada) : Waterloo MSA, Peace Arch AC, Surrey Guildford, Vancouver Whitecaps FC Residency, TFC Academy
Now in his fourth international season, 24-year old midfielder Liam Fraser has already won a Canadian Championship with Toronto FC and a Campeones Cup with Columbus Crew SC. He made the move from MLS to Europe last season where he now plays for KMSK Deinze in Belgium.
HOILETT, David Junior | 32 | Brampton, ON, CAN
Current club (England) : Reading FC
Youth (Canada & England) : Brampton YSC, Toronto CS Azzurri, Oakville SC, Blackburn Rovers FC
A former Canada record holder for international assists, 32-year old winger Junior Hoilett plays in England’s Championship with Reading FC. He has helped two teams win promotion to the Premier League and he is also the second-highest Canadian goalscorer in Premier League history.
HUTCHINSON, Atiba | 39 | Brampton, ON, CAN
Current club (Turkey) : Beşiktaş JK
Youth (Canada) : Brampton YSC, Woodbridge SC
A six-time Canada Soccer Player of the Year, captain Atiba Hutchinson has won multiple club titles in Denmark, Netherlands and Turkey. The former FIFA U-20 World Cup All-Star is Canada’s all-time leader in men’s international “A” appearances. He has spent the last 10 seasons at Beşiktaş JK in Turkey.
JOHNSTON, Alistair | 24 | Aurora, ON, CAN
Current club (Canada) : CF Montréal
Youth (Canada) : Lakeshore SC, Aurora YSC, Richmond Hill SC, Aurora YSC, ANB Futbol, Vaughan SC
CF Montréal’s Defensive Player of the Year, 24-year old fullback Alistair Johnston has featured in more MLS minutes than any other Canadian outfield player these past two seasons. He led all Canadians in minutes played across FIFA World Cup Qualifiers and set a Men’s National Team record in 2021 with 18 matches played.
KAYE, Mark-Anthony | 27 | Toronto, ON, CAN
Current club (Canada) : Toronto FC
Youth (Canada) : Wexford SC, Ajax SC, Glen Shields SC, TFC Academy
A one-time MLS Supporters’ Shield winner at Los Angeles FC, 27-year old midfielder Mark-Anthony Kaye joined his hometown Toronto FC during the 2022 season. He was an MLS All-Star Game participant in his first season at LAFC in 2018 and then led all Canadians in MLS appearances, dribbles and tackles in 2019.
KONÉ, Ismaël | 20 | Montréal, QC, CAN
Current club (Canada) : CF Montréal
Youth (Canada) : AS Notre-Dame-de-Grâce, CS Saint-Laurent
A first-year international, 20-year old midfielder Ismaël Koné made his Canada “A” debut on 24 March away in Costa Rica. As a pro rookie, he scored goals this year in Concacaf Champions League, Major League Soccer, and the MLS playoffs. He scored his first international goal on 11 November 2022.
LARIN, Cyle | 27 | Brampton, ON, CAN
Current club (Belgium): Club Brugge KV
Youth (Canada) : Brampton YSC, Sigma FC
Concacaf’s top goalscorer in FIFA World Cup Qualifiers, 27-year old forward Cyle Larin has won club titles in Turkey and Belgium. He set the Men’s National Team’s single-season goalscoring record in 2021 and all-time international “A” goals record in 2022. He is in his first season with Club Brugge KV in Belgium.
LARYEA, Richie | 27 | Toronto, ON, CAN
Current club (Canada) : Toronto FC
Youth (Canada) : Club Uruguay Toronto, Sigma FC
A two-time Concacaf Team of the Matchday all-star during FIFA World Cup Qualifiers, 27-year old fullback Richie Laryea has been on loan from Nottingham Forest to Toronto FC since the summer. He led all Canadians in MLS tackles in 2021 and finished second amongst Canadians in MLS passing accuracy in 2022.
MILLAR, Liam | 23 | Brampton, ON, CAN
Current club (Switzerland) : FC Basel
Youth (Canada & England) : Brampton YSC, North Mississauga SC, Burlington YSC, Fulham FC, Liverpool FC
Now in his fifth international season, 23-year old winger Liam Millar has been playing overseas for more than a decade in England, Scotland, and Switzerland. He made his Liverpool FC debut in 2019-20 and scored his first UEFA Europa Conference League goals with FC Basel in 2021-22.
MILLER, Kamal | 25 | Scarborough, ON, CAN
Current club (Canada) : CF Montréal
Youth (Canada) : Scarborough Malvern SC, North Scarborough SC, Vaughan SC
A Canadian Championship winner at CF Montréal, 25-year old centre back Kamal Miller was a three-time Concacaf Team of the Matchday all-star during FIFA World Cup Qualifiers. This past season at CF Montréal, he became the first-ever Canadian centre back to start in an MLS All-Star Game.
OSORIO, Jonathan | 30 | Brampton, ON, CAN
Current club (Canada) : Toronto FC
Youth (Canada & Uruguay) : Toronto Futsal League, Brampton YSC, Club Nacional
A former Concacaf Champions League Golden Boot award winner, 30-year old midfielder Jonathan Osorio has won the Canadian Championship, MLS Supporters’ Shield and MLS Cup with Toronto FC. This past season, he co-led all Canadians in MLS goals and assists and led all Canadians in MLS pass percentage.
PANTEMIS, James | 25 | Montréal, QC, CAN
Current club (Canada) : CF Montréal
Youth (Canada) : AS Pierrefonds, Lakeshore SC, Académie de l’Impact de Montréal
An Allstate Canada Soccer Good Hands Award winner, 25-year old goalkeeper James Pantemis has represented Canada in Concacaf Nations League Qualifying and FIFA World Cup Qualifiers. A two-time Canadian Championship winner, he helped CF Montréal set a franchise record for points in 2022.
PIETTE, Samuel | 28 | Le Gardeur, QC, CAN
Current club (Canada) : CF Montréal
Youth (Canada, France & Germany) : Lionceaux de le Gardeur, Olympique de Repentigny, FC Boisbriand, FC Metz, Fortuna Düsseldorf
A two-time Canadian Championship winner at CF Montréal, 28-year old midfielder Samuel Piette is the youngest-ever Canadian to feature in more than 60 international “A” matches. A three-time Québec Soccer Player of the Year, Piette became Montréal’s all-time Canadian leader in MLS minutes played this past season.
ST. CLAIR, Dayne | 25 | Pickering, ON, CAN
Current club (USA) : Minnesota United FC
Youth (Canada) : Ephinay Church SL, North Scarborough SC, Pickering SC, Vaughan SC
The 2022 Major League Soccer All-Star Game Most Valuable Player, 25-year old goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair is in his second international season with Canada. In 2022 with Minnesota United FC, he led all Canadians in MLS saves and finished second amongst all Canadians in MLS minutes and MLS clean sheets.
UGBO, Iké | 24 | Brampton, ON, CAN & London, ENG
Current club (France) : ES Troyes AC
Youth (Canada & England) : Brampton East SC, Woodbridge Strikers, Chelsea
A two-time UEFA Youth League winner at Chelsea FC, 24-year old striker Iké Ugbo is now in his second Ligue 1 season with ES Troyes AC in France. He is now in his second international season since making his Canada debut in FIFA World Cup Qualifiers on 12 November 2021.
VITÓRIA, Steven | 35 | Sudbury & Mississauga, ON, CAN
Current club (Portugal) : GD Chaves
Youth (Canada & Portugal) : Sudbury Lions, Toronto CS Azzurri, Mississauga Falcons, Dixie SC, Kleinenburg Nobleton SC, Glen Shields SC, Woodbridge SC, FC Porto
A one-time UEFA Europa League finalist with Benfica, 35-year old centre back Steven Vitória has won league and cup titles in Portugal and Poland. Now playing at GD Chaves in Portugal, he has scored more than 50 goals for clubs and country across all competitions.
WATERMAN, Joel | 26 | Aldergrove, BC, CAN
Current club (Canada) : CF Montréal
Youth (Canada) : Aldergrove YSA, Langley United SA, Surrey United SC, Kitsap Pumas, TSS Rovers
A Canadian Championship winner with CF Montréal, 26-year old centre back Joel Watermana is in his second international season with Canada. This past season, he helped CF Montréal set a club record in points while he finished third amongst all Canadians in MLS minutes and first in total passes.
WOTHERSPOON, David | 32 | Bridge of Earn, SCO
Current club (Scotland) : St. Johnstone FC
Youth (Scotland) : Abernethy Cubs, Bridge of Earn, St. Johnstone Academy, Celtic, Hibernian
A two-time Scottish Cup winner and one-time Scottish League Cup winner, 32-year old midfielder David Wotherspoon is now in his third international season with Canada. He has made more than 300 appearances across the past 10 seasons with St. Johnstone FC in Scotland.
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