Canada Soccer announced Friday a 21-player squad that will take part in the upcoming 2026 Concacaf U-20 Championship in Mexico.
The tournament is a crucial one for Canada, who will attempt to qualify for the FIFA U-20 World Cup as well as the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
Canada's U-20 team, which will be led for the first time by senior men's national team head coach Jesse Marsch, features the best young talents in the country, including four from the Canadian Premier League.
The squad includes defenders Zayne Bruno (Forge FC) and Sergei Kozlovskiy (Atlético Ottawa), midfielder Emrick Fotsing (Vancouver FC) and forward Shola Jimoh (Inter Toronto). Vancouver's Marsel Bibishkov has also been named as an alternate.
Among the other exciting players in the group are Vancouver Whitecaps midfielder Liam Mackenzie, and 17-year-old Toronto FC prospect Antone Bossenberry. Another exciting name is Aleksandr Guboglo, a 19-year-old Ottawa-born striker who has been impressing for CF Montréal's first team since 2025.
This being the start of a U-20 age group cycle, it's a younger squad, with eight members of Canada's 2025 FIFA U-17 World Cup team included.
At the tournament in Mexico, Canada will attempt to qualify for the U-20 World Cup for the first time since they hosted the tournament in 2007. They'll also aim to book their first spot in the Olympic men's tournament since 1984.
The Concacaf U-20 Championship is a 12-team tournament. Each of the four semifinalists will qualify for the 2027 World Cup in Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan, while the highest-finishing team other than the United States (who qualify as hosts) will also go to the Olympics in L.A.
Canada are in Group C, where they'll take on Panama (July 26), Honduras (July 29) and Jamaica (Aug. 1). The top two teams from each group, plus the two best third-place sides, advance to the quarterfinals.
Marsch will be joined at the tournament by usual assistant Mauro Biello, as well as U-20 coach Andrew Olivieri and Andrea Di Pietrantonio.
"This is an important tournament for our program, and for the future of Canadian soccer," said Marsch in a statement. "Every match here carries direct consequences for a World Cup and an Olympic Games. I'm grateful to work alongside Mauro, Andrew and Andrea whose experience with these players and this pathway will be invaluable."
Canada's full squad is as follows:
GK - Nathaniel Abraham / University of Louisville
F - Marius Aiyenero / LAFC
M - Antone Bossenberry / Toronto FC
F - Zayne Bruno / Forge FC
D - Richard Chukwu / Toronto FC
D - Moise Clovis-Archange / Orlando City SC
M - Timothy Fortier / Toronto FC
M - Emrick Fotsing / Vancouver FC
F - Owen Graham-Roache CF / Montréal
F - Aleksandr Guboglo / CF Montréal
F - Shola Jimoh / Inter Toronto FC
M - Dylan Judelson / Orlando City SC
D - Sergei Kozlovskiy / Atlético Ottawa
F - Lucas Lima / GD Chaves
M - Liam Mackenzie / Vancouver Whitecaps FC
D - Anyole Peter / Vancouver Whitecaps FC
GK - Jonathan Ransom / Atlanta United
D - Felix Samson / FC Cincinnati
M - Jesse Saputo / Bologna FC
GK - Izan Server / RC Celta de Vigo
D - Max Vogele / IFK Stocksund
