CAMP POUTINE ROSTER: 6 new call-ups in CanMNT's squad for January friendly vs. Guatemala

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Canada NT

Six first-time call-ups, three CPL players and a pair of intriguing dual nationals headline Canada's first squad of 2026. The North American-based group take on Guatemala in an international friendly on January 17 in Los Angeles.

On Tuesday morning, the Canadian men's national team announced its first squad of 2026 for an upcoming training camp in Irvine, California, starting on January 8.

As part of the camp, Canada take on Guatemala in an international friendly at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles on Saturday, January 17. The match, which kicks off at 7 p.m. PT / 10 p.m. ET, will be available live on OneSoccer. This is the first time the two nations have met since Guatemala shocked Canada on penalties in the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup quarter-finals.

With this camp outside an official FIFA international window, Canada's squad is limited to players who are out of club competition, the majority of whom are North American-based.

The 20-player squad features six first-time callups, including Atlético Ottawa defender Noah Abatneh, GAIS full-back Matteo de Brienne, Vancouver Whitecaps midfielder Jeevan Badwal, Halifax Wanderers striker Tiago Coimbra and Vancouver Whitecaps forward Rayan Elloumi. Inter Toronto youngster Shola Jimoh previously trained with the national team during a camp in Toronto, but this is the first time he has been officially named to a squad.

The Whitecaps' Ralph Priso, Toronto FC's Luka Gavran and Portland Timbers goalkeeper James Pantemis, meanwhile, have previously been called into camps but do not have an international cap to their name.

Marcelo Flores of Tigres UANL has been included in the group after joining November's camp as a training player. He previously accepted a call to a Canadian national team January camp in 2021 while with Arsenal's academy, but withdrew due to pandemic restrictions. The 22-year-old attacker would need to file a one-time switch in order to be eligible for the match against Guatemala, as he has previously played three matches for the Mexican senior national team.

The other intriguing dual-national at this camp is the 18-year-old Elloumi, who had a breakout season for the Vancouver Whitecaps this year, scoring a pair of goals and two assists in 11 matches in all competitions. He has previously played for Tunisia's U-23 side, scoring in a 3-0 win over Iraq in October.

Aside from the new players, Marsch's coaching staff for the camp includes Cavalry FC head coach Tommy Wheeldon Jr., Simcoe County Rovers' Sporting Director Doneil Henry, Atlético Ottawa goalkeeper coach Romuald Peiser, and North Vancouver FC's Andrew Peat.

Here is the full 20-player squad called up for the camp, plus Canada U-17 standout Marius Aiyenero of LAFC 2, who joins the group as a training player:

Camp Poutine Squad

TRAINING PLAYER

FW - Marius Aiyenaro (Los Angeles FC 2 / USA)