Canada call 10 MLSers for key Concacaf Nations League clash vs. United States

Canada Soccer on Tuesday announced the Canadian man’s national team squad for this month’s key Concacaf Nations League clash vs. the United States, calling in 10 MLS players for a match which could also have significant ramifications for the 2022 World Cup qualifying process which kicks off next year.

The Vancouver Whitecaps send the biggest contingent with four players, while Toronto FC and Orlando City send two apiece and LAFC and the Montreal Impact are also represented.

Les Rouges will welcome the USMNT to BMO Field, home of TFC, on Tuesday, Oct. 15. Rivals in CNL League A’s Group A alongside Cuba, who Canada swept in back-to-back matches last month, the two sides will meet again on Nov. 15 at Orlando’s Exploria Stadium.

“Normally, playing an old rival like the USA is enough to get the juices flowing, but there’s a lot more to play for in this match with Concacaf Nations League Group A positioning and FIFA ranking points on the line,” said CanMNT coach John Herdman in a statement. “If there’s going to be an upset in this match, the Canadian fans will play a big part as they always do at home.

“The players will be doing everything in their will to achieve a result against USA and our fans play a big role in pushing the team forward in those tough moments and in games like this there’ll be few, so we hope to see a sea of red at BMO Field and feel their passion from whistle to whistle.”

With Concacaf set to use the June 2020 edition of the FIFA World Rankings to determine which of the region’s top six nations will compete for a 2022 World Cup berth via the Hexagonal stage of qualifying, the two meetings with the US give Canada vital opportunities to accumulate valuable rankings points as they work to climb into that top six.

The Canucks climbed up to seventh in the latest edition of the FIFA rankings, released last month, though they are closely packed alongside Honduras, El Salvador, Panama and Curacao in the race for spots in the Hex, with Mexico, the USA, Costa Rica and Jamaica currently comprising the region’s top four.

Canada national team roster vs. USA