Canada head coach John Herdman will announce his final 26-man squad for the World Cup on Sunday morning, and while most spots have long been accounted for there are still a few question marks surrounding the roster.
The Canadians will be participating in their first men's World Cup in over 36 years, lending an incredible amount of hype and anticipation to the event in the Great White North. A big part of that hype will be knowing which 26 men will represent the Maple Leaf, as some relative unknowns will become household names in short order.
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Before Herdman puts out the official list on Sunday, here's DAZN's prediction for who will be on Canada's squad.
Canada's predicted World Cup 2022 squad
GOALKEEPERS
(Canada Soccer)
- Milan Borjan (Red Star Belgrade)
- Dayne St. Clair (Minnesota United)
- James Pantemis (CF Montreal)
On the outside looking in: Maxime Crepeau (LAFC), Thomas Hasal (Vancouver Whitecaps)
Milan Borjan is a lock to start in goal for the Canadians, although his backups have undergone a late injury-forced change.
Maxime Crepeau, who has pushed for the starter's job and played a big part in Canada's World Cup qualification campaign, sacrificed his body late in last week's MLS Cup final in a challenge that likely saved LAFC's championship hopes. Crepeau suffered a broken leg in the collision with Philadelphia's Corey Burke, who was in alone on goal after an errant back pass. LAFC eventually won the Cup, but Crepeau's World Cup hopes were shattered.
That pushed Dayne St. Clair up the depth chart and opened up a spot for CF Montreal's James Pantemis. Neither goalkeeper is expected to see any time in Qatar, but St. Clair will be the one called upon should Borjan become unavailable.
DEFENDERS
(Canada Soccer / Beau Chevalier)
- Steven Vitoria (Chaves)
- Kamal Miller (CF Montreal)
- Derek Cornelius (Panetolikos)
- Alistair Johnston (CF Montreal)
- Richie Laryea (Toronto FC)
- Sam Adekugbe (Hatayspor)
- Doneil Henry (Toronto FC)
- Raheem Edwards (LA Galaxy)
On the outside looking in: Scott Kennedy (Jahn Regensburg), Joel Waterman (CF Montreal), Zachary Brault-Guillard (CF Montreal), Lukas MacNaughton (Toronto FC)
Another injury to a key player helped define this list of defenders, with another question mark hanging over one of the inclusions.
Scott Kennedy suffered a shoulder injury with club side Jahn Regensburg and was ruled out of the World Cup. Kennedy would've likely started at least a match as his pace and athleticism were unmatched among Canada's pool of central defenders.
A similar story could play out for Doneil Henry, the most-capped member of the Canadian defensive corps. Henry was set to captain Canada in Friday's friendly against Bahrain but pulled out just before kickoff with an unspecified injury. Any significant time out will keep Henry from going to Qatar, which could allow Joel Waterman to claim a place in the squad.
MIDFIELDERS
(Getty Images)
- Stephen Eustaquio (Porto)
- Atiba Hutchinson (Besiktas)
- Jonathan Osorio (Toronto FC)
- Ismael Kone (CF Montreal)
- Samuel Piette (CF Montreal)
- Mark-Anthony Kaye (Toronto FC)
- David Wotherspoon (St. Johnstone)
On the outside looking in: Liam Fraser (Deinze), Mathieu Choiniere (CF Montreal)
Probably the easiest group of selections to make, the Canadian midfield corps all appears healthy and ready to go. Stephen Eustaquio is having a breakout season with Porto and is a locked-in starter for John Herdman, with captain Atiba Hutchinson and Jonathan Osorio back to full fitness after prolonged spells on the sidelines in recent months.
Eustaquio is Herdman's first name on the team sheet for the midfielders, but the question remains as to who will join him. Hutchinson and Osorio will surely play a major part, but will 20-year-old Ismael Kone force his way into the starting XI after a brilliant 2022 in MLS and a man-of-the-match performance against Bahrain?
FORWARDS
(Canada Soccer / Beau Chevalier)
- Alphonso Davies (Bayern Munich)
- Jonathan David (Lille)
- Cyle Larin (Club Brugge)
- Tajon Buchanan (Club Brugge)
- Lucas Cavallini (Vancouver Whitecaps)
- Junior Hoilett (Reading)
- Ike Ugbo (Troyes)
- Liam Millar (FC Basel)
On the outside looking in: Theo Corbeanu (Blackpool), Jacob Shaffelburg (Nashville SC), Ayo Akinola (Toronto FC)
If you've gotten this far and wondered where Alphonso Davies' name is, wonder no more as the Bayern Munich star will play a far more attacking role for his country than he does for his club. Davies has the freedom to play pretty much anywhere he wants to, but he'll spend most of his time on his preferred left flank while sometimes switching with Tajon Buchanan or Junior Hoilett on the right.
Jonathan David and Cyle Larin are the preferred strikers, although whether Herdman employs them together from the opening whistle remains to be seen.
Canada's plethora of wide attacking options forces exciting Wolverhampton loanee Theo Corbeanu out of the squad, but Basel's Liam Millar's hold on that final spot is tenuous at best.