Canada's Alphonso Davies (19) runs with the ball against South Africa during the second half of the World Cup Round of 32 soccer match in Los Angeles on Sunday, June 28, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn

The head coach of Canada's men's soccer team says he's balancing his top players' needs as he names a squad for a pair of World Cup homecoming games.

Captain Alphonso Davies was not on the 26-man roster announced by Jesse Marsch on Tuesday. Canada Soccer said in a release that the Bayern Munich standout was "unavailable for selection due to the celebration of his marriage and honeymoon."

Marsch said he and his staff talked about bringing Davies, 25, in for part of camp but ultimately decided they'd rather have him "ready to commit fully" for future "meaningful games."

"We have to sometimes prioritize certain situations over others to make sure that players can also have a life, live their life," the coach said. "And then when we need them and we need to draw on them to be as focused and as all in and mentally strong, physically strong as possible, that we can do that, right?”

Goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau is also absent from the team. Canada Soccer said the Orlando City netminder could not be called up due to a personal matter.

Canada, currently ranked 30th in the world, will face No. 49 Chile in Toronto on Sept. 26 before taking on No. 50 Peru in Montreal on Oct. 3. The Canadians will then face the 16th-ranked United States in St. Paul, Minn., on Oct. 6.

The three friendlies will mark the national team's first games since Canada's historic World Cup run this summer.

The tournament elevated the team but there's still room to grow, Marsch said.

“I think every step of the way, we've created higher and higher expectations, for ourselves most importantly," he said. "I think that the expectations are higher than they've ever been. What an incredible pressure to have and feel.”

Canada's men's team recorded a number of firsts this summer, starting with playing its first games on home soil. The group then earned its first win, trouncing Qatar 6-0, and earned a spot in the knockout round where Canada beat South Africa 1-0 in the round of 32. The Canadians were eliminated by Morocco in the round of 16.

Heading into the tournament, injury concerns lingered throughout the country's lineup, Marsch said, but the team persevered.

“I feel like we really maximized a lot of potential," he said. "We got guys ready to perform. We played great football. We electrified the country. We got a lot of guys healthy. We achieved a ton of history. We made the country proud. And now I think we're going to continue to push the level at which we play.”

The roster announced by Marsch on Tuesday includes 17 players who featured in the World Cup squad, including Stephen Eustáquio, whose stoppage-time goal lifted Canada to victory over South Africa. Striker Cyle Larin is also back after a hot start to the English Championship season.

One notable absence is Moïse Bombito. The 26-year-old centre back announced last month that he would undergo another surgery on his left tibia after pushing through pain at this summer's FIFA World Cup.

"It's heartbreaking. Heartbreaking," Marsch said of the development.

Bombito missed much of last season for Ligue 1 side Nice after having surgery for a broken leg, and pushed through pain to play for Canada at the World Cup. Every effort was made to try and avoid the defender going under the knife for a second time, Marsch said.

The coach and player talked about the situation at length while sitting in a Vancouver hospital waiting to see midfielder Ismaël Koné, whose leg was broken in two places when he was tackled from behind during Canada's group-stage rout of Qatar.

“We were having discussions about where (Bombito) was at and how to get him back and how to keep him healthy and what it would look like," Marsch said. "And then he got to meet the doctors there that took care of Ismaël, and I think he could see that there was a real high level of expertise and professionalism from all the people that operated on Ismaël and got the job done.”

The most recent surgery went well, Marsch added, noting that modifications were made to the rod inside Bombito's bone.

"We are all hopeful that finally we're on a good track here to get him back," he said, adding that he hopes to have Bombito back with the national team in March.

The roster announced Tuesday features up-and-coming talents in Toronto FC defender Richard Chukwu and Vancouver Whitecaps midfielder Jeevan Badwal.

Canada will continue to bring in new players over the next four years as the country pushes to earn a spot in the 2030 World Cup, set to be held in Spain, Portugal and Morocco.

“This isn't a stop at an end point as much as just a continuation and an acceleration to continue to move the program forward the right way and make sure that we're ready for competitive matches when they come," Marsch said.

Also included on the roster announced Tuesday are veteran midfielders Junior Hoilett and Samuel Piette, who were not part of the 2026 World Cup run but have been stalwarts of the men's senior program for many years.

“I think that we want to continue to find ways to acknowledge and appreciate all the good work that's been done by so many people, and in this moment specifically, these two players and in these two matches," Marsch said.

The coach noted that he will likely make at least one change to his roster after learning earlier on Tuesday that defender Alfie Jones will be unavailable due to an injury.

If a player isn't in a place physically or mentally where he can fully commit to the national team, he won't be in the lineup, Marsch said, adding that he won't hold that against an athlete.

"The national team is above any one person, and that's going to continue to be the case," he said. "And we're going to make sure that we continue to push the level at which this team can play.”

ROSTER

Goalkeepers: Owen Goodman (Dundee United), James Pantemis (Portland Timbers), Dayne St. Clair (Inter Miami)

Defenders: Derek Cornelius (Olympique de Marseille), Richard Chukwu (Toronto FC), Luc de Fougerolles (Real Salt Lake), Jovan Ivanisevic (FK Sarajevo), Alfie Jones (Middlesbrough), Richie Laryea (Toronto FC), Ralph Priso (Vancouver Whitecaps), Niko Sigur(Toulouse)

Midfielders: Jeevan Badwal (Vancouver Whitecaps), Tajon Buchanan (Villarreal), Mathieu Choinière (Los Angeles FC), Stephen Eustáquio (Swansea City), Junior Hoilett (unattached), Liam Millar (Birmingham City), Samuel Piette(CF Montréal), Nathan Saliba (Villarreal), Jacob Shaffelburg (Los Angeles FC)

Forwards: Jonathan David (Atletico Madrid), Promise David (Brighton & Hove Albion), Daniel Jebbison (AFC Bournemouth), Cyle Larin (Southampton), Tani Oluwaseyi (Villarreal), Jacen Russell-Rowe (Toulouse)

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 15, 2026.

News from © The Canadian Press, 2026