By The Canadian Press

Canada coach Jesse Marsch calls in 21 players for January camp in California

Jan 6, 2026 | 10:09 AM

Canada coach Jesse Marsch has called in 21 players for a camp that runs Thursday through Jan. 18 in California.

Given the camp in Irvine does not fall during a FIFA international window, Marsch has chosen players out of season, with all but one based in North America.

The Canadian squad will face Guatemala on Jan. 17 at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles in a game classified as a Tier 1 international that will count towards FIFA’s world rankings. Canada is currently ranked 27th in the world — and third in CONCACAF behind the U.S. and Mexico — while Guatemala is 10th in the region at No. 94.

“We’re excited to have an extra opportunity to have a men’s national team camp ahead of a massive year,” Marsch said in a statement Tuesday. “We have a very talented squad of North American-based players who will be hungry to prove themselves.”

Canada and Guatemala last met in the Gold Cup quarterfinals in June 2025 with the Central Americans prevailing 6-5 in a penalty shootout after the game finished knotted at 1-1. Canada was reduced to 10 men when winger Jacob Shaffelburg was sent off in first-half stoppage time.

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LAFC’s Shaffelburg and Mathieu Choiniere are included in the California camp roster, along with Toronto FC’s Richie Laryea and Jonathan Osorio. All four are considered to be likely World Cup-bound.

Other camp invitees will be looking to advance their cause.

Defenders Kamal Miller (Portland Timbers) and Joel Waterman (Chicago Fire) and midfielder Jayden Nelson (Austin FC) will be hoping for a spot on Marsch’s 26-man World Cup roster, with Luka Gavran (Toronto FC) and James Pantemis (Portland) among those vying for the third goalkeeper position behind Dayne St. Clair and Max Crepeau.

St. Clair and Crepeau are not part of the camp roster after changing MLS clubs. St. Clair just signed with Inter Miami, while Crepeau has joined Orlando City.

Matteo de Brienne, who is currently out of season with Sweden’s GAIS, is the only European-based player invited to camp. The defender, then playing for Valour FC, won the Canadian Premier League Best Canadian Under-21 Player Award in 2023.

CPL players invited to camp include Noah Abatneh (Atletico Ottawa), Shola Jimoh (Inter Toronto) and Tiago Coimbra (Halifax Wanderers). Abatneh was a finalist for CPL Defender of the Year and, like Coimbra, was named to the league’s Best XI for 2025.

Canadian youth international Marius Aiyenero, who plays for Los Angeles FC 2 in the MLS Next Pro league, has been invited as a training player. The 17-year-old forward scored five goals for Canada in CONCACAF U-17 World Cup qualifying play last February and added another at the FIFA U-17 World Cup in November in Qatar.

Born in Wisconsin, the dual national has also played for the U.S. under-15 side. As a training player, Aiyenero will not take part in the game against Guatemala.

Marcelo Flores, who plays in Mexico for Tigres UNAL, was a training player at Marsch’s November camp and gets a full invitation this time.

The 22-year-old Flores, born in Georgetown, Ont., to a Canadian mother and Mexican father, has already represented Mexico at the senior level. The winger is eligible for a one-time FIFA switch under the current regulations, introduced in 2021, which allow players who have played up to three senior international caps prior to the age of 21 to change allegiance.

Marsch and his coaching staff of Mauro Biello, Ewan Sharp and Yianni Michelis will be joined by guest coaches Tommy Wheeldon Jr. (Cavalry FC head coach), Doneil Henry (Simcoe County Rovers sporting director), Romuald Peiser (Atlético Ottawa goalkeeper coach) and Andrew Peat (North Vancouver FC head coach).

Canada’s all-time record against Guatemala is 10-2-3 (including the Gold Cup draw that turned into a loss). The Canadian men’s previous losses to the Central Americans were both in World Cup qualifying play — 2-0 in August 2004 in Burnaby, B.C. and 1-0 in October 1998 in Guatemala City.

With just two FIFA international windows — March 23-31 and June 1-9 — before the World Cup kicks off June 11, the January camp provides another chance for Marsch to spend time with at least some of his players.

Canada Camp Roster

Goalkeepers: Luka Gavran, Toronto FC (MLS); James Pantemis, Portland Timbers (MLS).

Defenders: Noah Abatneh, Atletico Ottawa (CPL); Zorhan Bassong, Sporting Kansas City (MLS); Matteo de Brienne, GAIS (Sweden); Richie Laryea, Toronto FC (MLS); Jahkeele Marshall-Rutty, CF Montreal (MLS); Kamal Miller, Portland Timbers (MLS); Ralph Priso, Vancouver Whitecaps (MLS); Joel Waterman, Chicago Fire (MLS).

Midfielders: Jeevan Badwal, Vancouver Whitecaps (MLS); Mathieu Choiniere, Los Angeles FC (MLS); Jayden Nelson, Austin FC (MLS); Marcelo Flores, Tigres UNAL (Mexico); Shola Jimoh, Inter Toronto (CPL); Jonathan Osorio, Toronto FC (MLS); Jacob Shaffelburg, Los Angeles FC (MLS).

Forwards: Tiago Coimbra, Halifax Wanderers (CPL); Rayan Elloumi, Vancouver Whitecaps (MLS); Jacen Russell-Rowe, Columbus Crew.

Training Player: Marius Aiyenero, Los Angeles FC 2 (MLS Next Pro).

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This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 6, 2026.

Neil Davidson, The Canadian Press