\u201cMy goal would be to have the squad named and relatively clear in that camp,\u201d he told Sports Illustrated in a recent media availability. <\/p>\n
\u201cThere may be some outlier situations where we have to consider looking at two or three players for one or two spots and then evaluating on June 1 exactly what the squad looks like.\u201d<\/p>\n
The concern of final cuts ahead of the World Cup<\/a> is a relatively new one for Canada. In the nation\u2019s previous 1986 and 2022 tournament appearances, depth pieces weren\u2019t pushing in the same way. In 2026, roughly 35 players are vying for 26 spots.\u00a0<\/p>\n For the USMNT in the past, the cuts from the World Cup pre-camp to the final roster have sparked significant blowback. In 2014, Landon Donovan broke down in tears after J\u00fcrgen Klinsmann cut him from the final squad and Jeff Agoos infamously burned his kit when he was dropped by Bora Milutinovi\u0107 in 1994.<\/p>\n Yet, injuries may make it unavoidable for Canada, given the key players that have struggled with fitness issues in the past year and are slowly making their return ahead of the summer\u2019s tournament.\u00a0<\/p>\n Left back Alphonso Davies leads that group, but has recently returned for Bayern Munich after an ACL and meniscus injury. Meanwhile, center backs Mo\u00efse Bombito, Alfie Jones, Derek Cornelius, Luc de Fougerolles, right back Alistair Johnston, and winger Jacob Shaffelburg are all pressing to return in time.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cWe have a number of guys coming back from injury, and knock on wood, we\u2019ll hopefully get those guys back and get them strong and fit and ready to go,\u201d added Marsch. \u201cWhen you have important players, we\u2019re going to have to try to figure out exactly where everybody is from a health, fitness, form perspective.\u201d<\/p>\n January Camp Opens More Options Ralph Priso (left) and Jacen Russell-Rowe (right) impressed in Canada\u2019s January camp match against Guatemala. | Courtesy of Canada Soccer <\/p>\n Marsch spoke on his potential June squad from Los Angeles, where Canada held a 10-day January <\/a>training camp, capped off by a 1\u20130 win over Guatemala in a Tier 2 friendly. While the match won\u2019t affect the FIFA rankings, it raised more roster questions.<\/p>\n Vancouver Whitecaps <\/a>central midfielder-turned-center back Ralph Priso impressed with feisty tackles and the ability to play line-breaking passes, while Columbus Crew <\/a>striker Jacen Russell-Rowe scored a deft header. Both likely earned themselves a look with the top-tier national team in the March window for two Tier 1 friendlies in Toronto.\u00a0<\/p>\n GOAL \ud83c\udde8\ud83c\udde6<\/p>\n JACEN RUSSELL-ROWE opens the scoring for the CanMNT with a PERFECT header off Malik Henry’s cross, for a 1-0 lead over Guatemala \ud83c\uddec\ud83c\uddf9<\/p>\n \ud83d\udd34 Watch LIVE on OneSoccer pic.twitter.com\/iG0OQ2cBKy<\/a><\/p>\n![\"Ralph](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/01kf8zb6er04qbxgm79f.jpg\" "\\"Ralph")
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