Canada Soccer has today confirmed its preliminary roster for the 2023 edition of the CONCACAF Gold Cup. Her lineup features a staggering 60 players. As the tournament draws near, the team looks to showcase their raw talent and strategic ingenuity on a booming regional level. Canada joins Group B and opens play on June 17. They’ll be going up against a top-ten ranked opponent and looking to continue the momentum of their last few matches.
In fact, the Canadian men’s soccer team has a long history with its soon-to-be divisive rivals. They’ve put in strong rejections of their rivals in Honduras, El Salvador, and Curaçao. As the team gets closer to the final selection, it will narrow down its preliminary roster further. By June 4, they need to submit a final squad of 23-26 players.
Strong Historical Performance Against Rivals
In history, Canada has played against Honduras 29 times, winning 9, losing 13 and drawing 7. Canada’s last match-up against Honduras this past March, the Canadians hosted Honduras at BMO Field. Canada controlled the game throughout, winning in impressive fashion with a 4-1 scoreline! This performance cemented Canada’s developing swagger and poise as they head to the Gold Cup.
All-time against El Salvador, Canada has a really positive record of 10-5-4. The last two meetings further solidified this advantage, with Canada winning decisively 3-0 in September 2021 and following up with a 2-0 victory in February 2022. Canada comes in with quite the history over Curaçao. They’ve already won all three matches — handily, too, winning 2-0 earlier this year — it’s game on.
These results lay an excellent platform as Canada now moves on to the Gold Cup. The team looks to capitalize off the momentum from last week’s victories, but will be challenged by opponents.
Notable Players on the Roster
Among the well-known faces on Canada’s preliminary roster is vice-captain Stephen Eustaquio. Even with his club team Porto reaching the final of the FIFA Club World Cup, Eustaquio is determined to show up for Canada. His leadership and experience will be vital as the team makes its way through the tournament.
Besides Eustaquio, fellow attacking midfielder Jonathan David is another player to keep an eye on. With David’s contract with Lille expiring in 2024, he lacks the leverage of a long-term contract. Should he sign with one of the 32 Club World Cup teams, he will likely face scheduling conflicts. His Gold Cup performance surely will impact the club prospects that lie ahead of him.
Youth is equally as important in guiding Canada’s approach. The preliminary roster features 17-year-old wingers Shola Jimoh, of York United FC. His call-up is a sign of the federation’s commitment to bringing emerging talent into the national team pipeline.
Roster features strong representation from domestic clubs. That roster features six players from CF Montreal, five players from TFC and four players from the Vancouver Whitecaps. This combination of experience and youth underscores Canada’s depth and potential as they gear up for the tournament.
Current Ranking and Upcoming Challenges
Now ranked a record 30th in the world, Canada has lofty expectations heading into the Gold Cup. The team’s recent performance in international competitions, including a quarterfinal penalty shootout loss to the United States in the previous tournament, underscores their competitive edge.
On June 17, Canada will open play in Group B against a top-ranked foe. They need to tap into their historical successes and player talents to win. The preliminary roster is a strong assertion of individual musical and technical talents combined with the artistic eye to yield an unparalleled cohesive unit prepared to tackle world-class critiques.
