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A new chapter for Jesse Marsch's Canadian men's national team has officially begun, introducing a wave of fresh talent as the journey toward the 2030 World Cup gets underway—though Alphonso Davies won't be part of it just yet.
On Tuesday, Canada Soccer announced a 26-man squad for autumn friendlies against Chile and Peru in Toronto and Montreal, ahead of a much-anticipated showdown with the U.S. men's national team in Minnesota.
Bayern Munich's Davies is absent from the roster as he embarks on his honeymoon following his wedding at the end of the summer, after a World Cup in which he featured for just 15 minutes due to injury. Goalkeeper Maxime Crépeau was also unavailable after the passing of his father.
Fresh from his transfer to Atlético Madrid and his first goal for his new club, Jonathan David returns as the team's standout star, while the Villarreal trio of Tajon Buchanan, Nathan Saliba and Tani Oluwaseyi also feature prominently on the roster. In total, 17 players from the fall squad were part of the 26-man World Cup roster, carrying strong momentum from a historic run to the round of 16.
Here are Sports Illustrated's key observations from the squad announcement.
The Summer of Transfers
It was a hectic summer of transfers for Canadian players, with several major deals going down to the final moments. Now reuniting with Les Rouges for the first time since the World Cup, eight players arrive representing new clubs, either stepping up in league level or taking on greater roles at a lower tier.
All eyes will be on new Premier League forward Promise David, who moved from Belgium's Union Saint-Gilloise to Brighton & Hove Albion on Deadline Day and made his Premier League debut against Chelsea. While he hasn't broken into the starting lineup under Marsch yet, his Premier League platform could elevate his standing in Canada's depth chart, particularly given his impressive international scoring rate of four goals in 314 minutes.
Beyond the new Premier League arrival, Liam Millar has joined Birmingham City in the EFL Championship for the first time. The loan move followed a brilliant start to 2026–27 that saw him net a match-winning goal for Hull City against Coventry City.
Back in the second tier, he has continued to shine, matching the high standard he set last season with Hull and competing among the division's top performers alongside Golden Boot leader Cyle Larin, who enters the Canada camp having scored seven goals in as many matches.
Other notable arrivals following recent transfers include midfielders Nathan Saliba, who recently joined Villarreal from RSC Anderlecht after a standout World Cup, and Niko Sigur, who made the step up to Ligue 1 with Toulouse, departing his boyhood club Hajduk Split.
Veterans Usher in Youth
Canada's new era also sees the return of players who fell out of favor in the buildup to the World Cup. Junior Hoilett, 36, and Samuel Piette, 31, are back after lengthy absences. The two veterans bring a combined 138 caps of experience to a side with its sights set on the future.
Hoilett, fondly nicknamed "O.G." by teammates, was on the periphery of the World Cup roster for his mentorship and set-piece qualities, but is currently without a club after departing EFL League 2 side Swindon Town at the end of last season. Piette, meanwhile, continues to fill a depth role at CF Montréal, though he is not considered a long-term cornerstone for either the Canadian national team or the MLS club.
Both will play a crucial role in shaping the team's culture, and are likely to receive farewell tributes as U-22 players Richard Chukwu, Jovan Ivanisevic and Jeevan Badwal join the squad.
Badwal may be the most exciting young addition, having contributed a goal and three assists across 1,243 MLS minutes this season with the Vancouver Whitecaps. At just 20 years old, he has already established himself as a dynamic central midfield presence and has taken on increased responsibility at the MLS club since USMNT star Sebastian Berhalter departed Vancouver for Middlesbrough.
Ivanisevic earned his first senior call-up at 21, having moved to Europe as a teenager after coming through the Toronto FC academy. Currently playing for FK Sarajevo in the Bosnian Premier League, the defender made a strong impression in the youth ranks at Italy's Bologna and is regarded as a prospect for the future.
Is the Striker Position in Question?
Jonathan David is Canada's all-time top scorer with 42 goals in 82 caps and bagged a hat-trick at the World Cup in a 6–0 victory over Qatar, yet this window could present others with a chance to challenge him for his starting spot—though he will be given every opportunity to retain it.
Southampton's Larin, second only to David on the all-time scoring list, was named the EFL Championship's Player of the Month for September and will aim to carry that momentum onto the international stage after managing just two goals in seven games over the summer. Promise David, meanwhile, brings the prestige of his new Premier League status into the equation.
While those three are the most likely candidates to spearhead the team going forward, there will be openings for Ligue 1 striker Jacen Russell-Rowe, 24, who is still working to cement his international credentials. Oluwaseyi, meanwhile, has struggled in front of goal for club and country, while Bournemouth's Daniel Jebbison has failed to impress in his Premier League return this season and was a late omission from the World Cup squad.
With a striker-heavy roster, competition for minutes will be fierce, and the frontrunners remain Jonathan and Promise David, along with the in-form Larin—though others will have the chance to make their mark this fall.
While results won't count in the friendlies, a victory over the U.S. has become the expectation under Marsch's men, particularly at a time when tensions between the two nations are running high off the pitch. Equally, building momentum ahead of competitive action in November's Concacaf Nations League quarterfinal will be a priority.
"We're excited," said Marsch. "This team gave everything at the World Cup, and now we get to do it again in front of the fans who supported us every step of the way. That's what these matches are all about. This summer changed what's possible for this program, and these matches are our chance to build on that."