What to know: The elder statesman of the three netminders and, in the majority of eyes, the one who shades Dayne St. Clair to earn the starting spot. Performed superbly during the 2024 Copa America run which hyper-sped the Marsch era. A superb shot-stopper, Crépeau missed the 2022 World Cup with a broken leg.

What to know: Like Crépeau, he hasn’t arrived into World Cup camp in the best of club form but Marsch trusts him hugely. Finding his voice more, he was named the 2025 MLS goalkeeper of the year. Has earned a reputation as a penalty-kick specialist in MLS playoffs but hasn’t yet shown that knack for Canada.

Club: Barnsley, EFL League One (on loan from Crystal Palace)

What to know: Despite James Pantemis being the most in-form Canadian keeper, Marsch wanted a younger player as his third-string option to earn tournament experience. English-born, Goodman hired his own immigration lawyer to successfully secure his Canadian citizenship. Is seen as the future of the position.

Club: Celtic, Scottish Premiership

For Canada: 56 caps, 1 goal

What to know: A cultural heartbeat on the right side of the defence, he’s defied expectations all the way to the top. Once labelled “too small” by Toronto FC scouts, he’s won four straight Scottish titles since moving to Europe. A great attacking outlet, he has developed a long throw which could be a valuable weapon.

Club: Hajduk Split, Croatian Football League

For Canada: 17 caps, 2 goals

What to know: Switched his international allegiance from Croatia to Canada in 2024 after some convincing by Marsch. What a shrewd move it’s already proven to be. A midfielder by trade, he’s shown a hunger to help anywhere and deputized to stellar effect in the long-term injury absence of Johnston. A future team leader.

For Canada: 19 caps, 0 goals

What to know: If Alphonso Davies is the country’s best player, Bombito is its most important. The breakout star of the Marsch era, his otherworldly combination of speed, athleticism and intelligence anchors the defensive high line. A broken leg in October slowed the ascent but his return is an enormous boost. While out injured he taught himself classical piano via YouTube.

Club: Rangers, Scottish Premiership (on loan from Marseille)

For Canada: 42 caps, 1 goal

What to know: Took the circuitous way to the biggest show in the world: plying his trade in Germany, Serbia, MLS, Greece, Sweden, France and Scotland. Despite playing for Canada for eight years, 24 of his 42 caps have been in two years under Marsch, during which he has made a huge jump. A quieter leader with a penchant for a spectacular free kick.

Club: Dender, Belgian Pro League (on loan from Fulham)

For Canada: 11 caps, 0 goals

What to know: Born in England to a Canadian father and Iranian-English mother, he was first called up as a 17-year-old nine months before Marsch took over. With a raft of injuries in defence in 2025, he showed maturity and composure beyond his years and has continued to develop in Belgium this term. Won’t be daunted by the occasion.

Club: Middlesbrough, EFL Championship

For Canada: 1 cap, 0 goals

What to know: Another of the dual-national recruits which have been a feature of Marsch’s tenure, Jones is a bit of a later bloomer but looked every inch an international defender in his debut last November. Comfortable with the ball at his feet, offers size at set-piece time, too. A complicated ankle injury threatened his participation but has recovered just in time.

For Canada: 17 caps 0 goals

What to know: Four years ago he was the late and unlikely bolter to the Canada squad for the Qatar World Cup. Had been playing in the Canadian Premier League just two years earlier. Marsch loves his hunger and attitude and has been rewarded with significant improvement.

For Canada: 73 caps, 1 goal

What to know: Mr. Toronto was Canada’s best player in 2025. Like Johnston on the other side, he’s all defiance. Sets the tone in the tackle and gets right under the skin of opposition. Can be a pest but he’s Canada’s pest. He’s also hugely intelligent and innately instinctive, rescuing the defence as the last man. Will fill in for the injured Davies in the opener and his versatility is priceless.

Club: Bayern Munich, Bundesliga

For Canada: 58 caps, 15 goals

What to know: Canada’s captain and the country’s one indisputably world-class player. His injury-blighted lead-in has been nightmarish but assuming he recovers in time for the second or third group game Davies can still make a huge impact. Made history with Canada’s first World Cup goal in Qatar and has much bigger things in mind this time.

Club: Villarreal, La Liga

For Canada: 58 caps, 8 goals

What to know: Suffered a sickening broken shin in the early days of Marsch’s tenure but his return to his best has been a joy to watch. A winger in the most timeless variety, he can torture full backs with his dribbles and cuts. Does all of the tireless relentless stuff Marsch demands of his players, too. A game-changer reaching his prime.

Club: Los Angeles FC, MLS (on loan from Porto)

For Canada: 54 caps, 4 goals

What to know: The vice-captain and workhorse in the middle, it does a disservice to Eustáquio’s abilities to describe him as the team’s fire blanket. He does spend much of his time extinguishing threats but is the metronome in the middle, too, an excellent passer who can be the start of so many moves. Almost certain to lead the team out in its Toronto opener.

For Canada: 38 caps, 4 goals

What to know: The star boy. Koné burst onto the stage in the lead-up to the Qatar World Cup and then suffered some ups and downs at club level in the years that followed. This season, under Marsch’s watchful eye in Italy, he has been reborn. The creative spark in the middle, he glides past opponents and is revelling in his ever-increasing importance.

Club: Norwich City, EFL Championship

For Canada: 24 caps, 1 goal

What to know: Ahmed actually made his debut a year before Marsch arrived but is the surefire most-improved player under Marsch. Has improved every single aspect of his game in leaps and bounds. A pressure-machine off either wing, he offers so much on both sides of the ball and has excelled after a January switch to English football.

Club: Los Angeles FC, MLS

For Canada: 22 caps, 0 goals

What to know: Another to have earned a European move after the 2024 Copa America, Choinière’s switch to Switzerland didn’t go well but he rebounded superbly in Los Angeles. Makes up for a lack of physical stature with a constant, indefatigable buzzing presence. A set-piece specialist, his impact off the bench could tell in a tight game.

Club: Anderlecht, Belgian Pro League

For Canada: 13 caps, 2 goals

What to know: Another of the swelled Quebecois core of this Canada squad, Saliba arrives at his first major tournament a man ready to break all the way out. Has excelled in his debut season in Europe and appears likely to soon swap Belgium for a bigger league. Box-to-box energy that’s made for the Red Bull style, he’s added goals to his game, too.

For Canada: 89 caps, 9 goals

What to know: The Toronto FC lifer will celebrate his 34th birthday on June 12, the day of the historic home opener. Being there is a fitting reward for his longevity and professionalism — no squad member has been with Canada longer. Can still offer an injection of fight and fire off the bench.

Club: Hull City, Premier League

For Canada: 39 caps, 1 goal

What to know: Just promoted to the Premier League with Hull, that unlikely triumph rounded off a 2026 of rebounds for Millar. He’ll be adamant there’s more to come. Recovered from a brutal ACL injury and subsequent mental health battles to prove his worth in the Marsch window. Has the creativity and passing skills to swing a contest.

For Canada: 2 caps, 0 goals

What to know: The newest Canadian international and latest of the dual-national recruits. Switched back from Mexico and immediately showed his mesmeric dribbling abilities in March. Offers something unpredictable that none of the other bench options do.

Club: Los Angeles FC, MLS

For Canada: 31 caps, 6 goals

What to know: The Messi of the Maritimes took off in spectacular fashion once he came face-to-face with the real Messi at the Copa America. Scorching down the wings that summer he made 2024 his own but has ebbed and flowed since.

For Canada: 75 caps, 39 goals

What to know: Enter The Iceman. The country’s record scorer hasn’t had the best time of it in his first season in Italy but putting on a red jersey does something different. Almost always delivers even while sacrificing some parts of his game in the deeper, sometimes more defensive role Marsch deploys him. Essential.

Club: Southampton, EFL Championship (on loan from Mallorca)

For Canada: 88 caps, 30 goals

What to know: Let us never knock a loan move again. The veteran looked at his lowest ebb before joining Southampton in January, his place in the World Cup squad even at risk. Since then? Vintage Larin, with nine goals in 22 games. That’s enough to reclaim the starting berth.

Club: Villarreal, La Liga

For Canada: 22 caps, 2 goals

What to know: Had looked to have grabbed the frontman’s role by playing in 12 internationals last year and then hitting the ground running in La Liga. That form has slowed a little this year but Marsch loves his selflessness off the ball.

Club: Union SG, Belgian Pro League

For Canada: 8 caps, 3 goals

What to know: An agent of chaos who mere weeks ago seemed sure to be kept away by injury. Instead has made “a revelation” of a recover, according to Marsch. What a boost that is. David has been the most prolific Canadian in Europe the past two years, offers size, speed and an X-factor that looks tailor-made for a big tournament moment.