For the first time since this summer's World Cup, international soccer is back for an extended FIFA window that runs from late September to early October.
Multiple nations return to action with crucial fixtures, including qualifiers for regional tournaments. A total of 11 Canadian Premier League players, and counting, have been called up by their respective national teams for this exciting window.
Here is a look at those who have been selected to represent their countries:
Mohamed Amissi (Vancouver FC / Burundi)
Vancouver FC's leading goalscorer Mohamed Amissi has been called up by the Burundi men's national team for a crucial pair of African Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers.
Burundi take on Togo on Sept. 25 and Algeria on Sept. 29 in Group I qualifying action. The qualifying group also includes Zambia.
The top two teams from each group after the three qualifying windows, each playing home and away, will qualify for the 2027 African Cup of Nations. Burundi have qualified just once, back in 2019.
Dimitry Bertaud (Forge FC / DR Congo)
Another CPL player who will be in action in AFCON qualifying is Forge FC goalkeeper Dimitry Bertaud, who was called up by DR Congo.
The 28-year-old Bertaud is having an excellent first season in the CPL, leading the league in clean sheets with 10. He has made 15 appearances for DR Congo at the senior level.
DR Congo take on Equatorial Guinea (and Atlético Ottawa's Roni Mbomio) on Sept. 24 and Zimbabwe on Sept. 28, with Sierra Leone the other side competing in Group E.
The Leopards, who are coming off an excellent run to the Round of 32 at this summer's World Cup, are two-time AFCON champions, most recently in 2016.
Michael Baldisimo (Cavalry / Philippines)
Earlier this month, Michael Baldisimo was called up to represent the Philippines at the 2026 Asian Games in Japan. A U-23 competition, Baldisimo was one of three overage players allowed to be named to the squad.
Unfortunately, the Philippines have already been eliminated, losing Group C matches to Uzbekistan and Vietnam. They do, however, have one final match against Kuwait on Sept. 22 to round out their tournament.
Caniggia Elva (Cavalry FC / St. Lucia)
The Cavalry FC striker has been called up by St. Lucia for Concacaf Nations League Group B action.
The big window gives St. Lucia an opportunity to not only be promoted to League A, but also to qualify for the 2027 Concacaf Gold Cup.
St. Lucia take on Barbados (Sept. 25), Bermuda (Sept. 28), and Guadeloupe twice (Oct. 2 & 5). They'll play their final group matches in November.
Ralph Khoury (Atlético Ottawa / Lebanon)
The 17-year-old Altético Ottawa striker has received his first senior national team call-up for his native Lebanon.
He will join them for a pair of friendlies against the Maldives and Kyrgyzstan on Oct. 1 and Oct. 4 where he could make his international debut.
Roni Mbomio (Atlético Ottawa / Equatorial Guinea)
As mentioned, two CPL players could technically go head-to-head in international action next week as Equatorial Guinea face DR Congo. Equatorial Guinea has once again called up Atlético Ottawa's 21-year-old centre-back Roni Mbomio for this window, where they also face Sierra Leone.
Mbomi has two caps for Equatorial Guinea. The nation has qualified for the past three AFCON tournaments, reaching the knockout stage twice.
Andre Rampersad & Ryan Telfer (Halifax Wanderers / Trinidad and Tobago)
Two Halifax Wanderers have been called up for a big window of Concacaf Nations League action for the Soca Warriors.
Trinidad and Tobago take on Haiti (Sept. 24), Costa Rica (Sept. 27) and Curaçao, both home (Oct. 4) and away (Oct. 1) in Group A action.
The top two teams in both groups advance to the Nations League quarterfinals, while the third and fourth place finishers book a spot in the Concacaf Gold Cup qualifiers.
Ilan Ahmed, Alexander Makarova & Daniel Pribytov (Canada U-17)
A trio of young Canadian Premier League players will represent Canada at the UEFA Friendship Cup 2026 in Switzerland this window.
There, they'll play some high-profile matches at the competition against Brazil, Spain and Côte d'Ivoire.
These matches will serve as important early preparation for the Concacaf U-17 men's World Cup qualification tournament next year.
Anthony Umanzor (Inter Toronto / El Salvador U-20)
On the youth national team front, Inter Toronto's Anthony Umanzor is back with El Salvador's U-20 national team this window.
El Salvador will be competing in the 2026 Torneo Las Americas in Cali, Colombia, where he will get to test himself against some of the best young players in the region.
