Former Mexico prospect Marcelo Flores makes Canada’s World Cup squad

The wait is over for Canada. Jesse Marsch has unveiled the final 26-man squad that will represent one of the three host nations at the 2026 World Cup, which Canada will co-host alongside the United States and Mexico.

Among the names on the roster is one very familiar to Mexican soccer fans: Marcelo Flores. The Tigres attacking midfielder has earned a place in the final squad and will have the opportunity to play in his first World Cup for Canada.

The 22-year-old, who was born in Georgetown, Ontario, but has Mexican roots, continues to establish himself as part of Marsch’s project and will be the only Liga MX player on Canada’s roster for the home tournament.

Marcelo Flores, the link between Canada and Liga MX

Flores’ call-up represents one of the more unique international stories in soccer.

The midfielder appeared for the youth national teams of Canada, England and Mexico before ultimately choosing to represent the country of his birth.

After spending time in Arsenal’s academy and gaining experience in both England and Spain, Flores found stability with Tigres, where he has developed into a player capable of earning minutes for Canada at the World Cup.

Although competition in midfield is fierce, Marsch has continued to show confidence in Flores, particularly during the final stretch leading up to the tournament, valuing his ability to operate between the lines and provide creativity in the attacking third.

Marsch leans heavily on Europe-based talent

Canada’s roster reflects the progress the program has made in recent years.

Most of the squad plays in some of the world’s top leagues, led by established stars such as Alphonso Davies, Jonathan David, Stephen Eustáquio, Tajon Buchanan and Cyle Larin.

Davies arrives as one of the leaders of the team after an outstanding career with Bayern Munich, although his role will depend on being fully fit. Meanwhile, Jonathan David enters the tournament following his first season with Juventus.

The roster also includes players with experience in England, France, Portugal, Spain, Belgium, Croatia and Italy.

Canada’s roster for the 2026 World Cup

Goalkeepers

Maxime Crépeau (Orlando City)

Owen Goodman (Barnsley / Crystal Palace)

Dayne St. Clair (Inter Miami)

Defenders

Moïse Bombito (Nice)

Derek Cornelius (Marseille)

Alphonso Davies (Bayern Munich)

Luc de Fougerolles (Fulham)

Alistair Johnston (Celtic)

Alfie Jones (Middlesbrough)

Richie Laryea (Toronto FC)

Niko Sigur (Hajduk Split)

Joel Waterman (Chicago Fire)

Midfielders

Ali Ahmed (Norwich City)

Tajon Buchanan (Villarreal)

Mathieu Choinière (LAFC)

Stephen Eustáquio (Porto)

Marcelo Flores (Tigres)

Ismaël Koné (Sassuolo)

Liam Millar (Hull City)

Jonathan Osorio (Toronto FC)

Nathan Saliba (Anderlecht)

Jacob Shaffelburg (LAFC)

Forwards

Jonathan David (Juventus)

Promise David (Union Saint-Gilloise)

Cyle Larin (Mallorca)

Tani Oluwaseyi (Villarreal)

Who do Canada play in the World Cup?

Canada, in Group B, will open its World Cup campaign on June 12 in Toronto against Bosnia and Herzegovina. The team will then face Qatar on June 18 in Vancouver before wrapping up the group stage against Switzerland on June 24, also in Vancouver.

After reaching the semifinals of the 2024 Copa América and achieving its highest-ever FIFA ranking under Jesse Marsch, Canada heads into the World Cup hoping to advance beyond the group stage for the first time in its history.

Get closer to the game! Whether you like your soccer of the European variety or that on this side of the pond, our AS USA app has it all. Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more. Plus, stay updated on NFL, NBA and all other big sports stories as well as the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.

And there’s more: check out our TikTok and Instagram reels for bite-sized visual takes on all the biggest soccer news and insights.