Three Canadian Stars Set to Shine as Canada Battles Guatemala in Concacaf Gold Cup Quarterfinals
Canada's men's national soccer team has set ambitious targets for the Concacaf Gold Cup.
Following their first group stage triumph since 2009, achieved through victories over Honduras and El Salvador plus a tie with Curaçao, they advance to Sunday's knockout rounds facing 106th-ranked Guatemala in the quarterfinals.
Though Les Rouges have enjoyed considerable fortune recently, securing this quarterfinal victory holds critical importance as they build momentum toward hosting the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
With increased attention on Canadian soccer, Sports Illustrated examines three key players to monitor in the Guatemala clash.
Nathan Saliba—Central Midfielder
Among all Concacaf Gold Cup participants, central midfielder Nathan Saliba experienced the most eventful period between group matches and knockout competition.
Mid-week, he departed his hometown club CF Montréal to sign with Belgian top-flight team Anderlecht on a four-year deal, finalizing the widely anticipated move during his standout tournament performance with Canada's national squad.
Saliba found the net in Canada's opening two matches—a 6–0 triumph against Honduras and a 1–1 stalemate with Curaçao—establishing himself as one of Marsch's most versatile midfield choices in an increasingly competitive area.
"He possesses an excellent blend of intelligence, athleticism, technical skill, tactical understanding, on-field responsibility, game commitment, running ability and ground coverage, aggressiveness, keen vision for attacking opportunities and sharp final pass execution," Marsch commented.
Though Saliba's performance dipped slightly in Canada's concluding group match versus El Salvador, his swift dribbling and passing expertise distinguish him, while his clinical finishing has enabled success in forward positions.
At Montreal, a talent-deficient squad limited his growth potential. Now with both Canada and Anderlecht, he possesses opportunities to advance his development and cement his status among the nation's elite players.
Jonathan David—Striker
Jonathan David might rank among Europe's most coveted players this transfer window, yet he hasn't matched those expectations during Canada's initial three Gold Cup encounters.
Rather than operating as a traditional striker, David assumes a flexible role under manager Jesse Marsch, regularly retreating into midfield to create opportunities for his strike partner in Canada's dual-forward system.
Nevertheless, given the rotation and competition for the secondary striker spot, his playing approach has required constant adaptation each game, leaving the nation's record goalscorer frequently tactically displaced and lacking offensive influence.
While Promise David, Tani Oluwaseyi, Cyle Larin and Daniel Jebbison have all received tournament chances, expect Promise to claim the starting position beside Jonathan, hoping the former Lille forward can capitalize on his maiden goal against El Salvador.
Luc de Fougerolles—Center Back
When OGC Nice's Moïse Bombito was excluded from the Gold Cup squad due to injury, questions arose regarding Canada's defensive partnership alongside Marseille's Derek Cornelius at center back.
That changed when 19-year-old Fulham U-21 defender Luc de Fougerolles emerged and excelled during pre-tournament Canadian Shield friendlies against Ukraine and Ivory Coast, then delivered outstanding performances versus El Salvador and Honduras.
Despite lacking professional men's soccer experience, the 6'1 center back has offered steady composure at the defensive foundation alongside Cornelius, while demonstrating remarkable calm under pressure and meeting Concacaf's physical demands.
Across 140 minutes, he has recorded 16 defensive interventions and gained experience at right back beyond his central defensive responsibilities. However, anticipate his center back deployment against another formidable Guatemala opponent.
While his credentials remain modest, this tournament represents his breakthrough moment and highlights his requirement for senior men's soccer experience, whether within England's football structure or potentially with Vancouver Whitecaps FC in MLS.
"A loan opportunity would be incredible," De Fougerolles shared with The Athletic. "Simply playing 40 professional matches, I believe that's the element I'm lacking with the Under-21s. It's less demanding. So joining a League One or Championship club, I think every match would be competitive and that experience would provide an excellent foundation."