We should be happy that Canada Soccer is even hosting a January camp for the national men’s team.
Such things have been few and far between in recent years, including last year when financial constraints scuttled any hope of getting a group together, let alone play a match.
Therefore, despite the European-based players staying with their clubs, Canada Soccer was able to tap into an improved financial situation (sources suggest this camp cost Canada Soccer less than $500,000) and arrange this week’s getaway in Irvine, Calif. for its North American-based professionals ahead of Saturday’s friendly against Guatemala.
Despite the lack of star power, this is still an extremely important camp for several players. A very young roster is highlighted by veterans Jonathan Osorio, Richie Laryea and Joel Waterman.
All three have been regular squad members under Jesse Marsch, with Laryea a likely starter at this summer’s World Cup. Both Osorio and Waterman are expected to be named in the 23- (or 26-) man squads, however both could also be considered on the bubble and will need strong starts to the MLS season with Toronto and Chicago, respectively.
Beyond those three, the remainder of the squad consists either of players who will more than likely become important members of the next World Cup cycle or two, and players who really need to assert themselves and do it now.
Two examples:
• Jayden Nelson, who has just been traded from Vancouver to Austin in MLS, needs minutes and has shown enough potential at both club and country to be in consideration for a World Cup spot.
• Kamal Miller, who was enormously important to Canada during qualification for the 2022 World Cup but who has seen himself fall down the centre-back depth chart since Marsch took the reins from John Herdman.
There are some players at this camp who will be watched extra closely — with the potential to surprise and perhaps oust a veteran from this summer’s event. These are players very much operating on the outskirts of the bubble, but have a chance to become key members of an already strong squad:
Ralph Priso
Priso joined the Vancouver Whitecaps in March 2024 with a lot to prove following a move from Colorado. An intelligent defensively oriented midfielder, he took some time to settle.
Late last season, he was thrust into centre-back duties as the ‘Caps struggled with injury. By the time Vancouver had fallen to Miami in the MLS Cup final, Priso had established himself as a legitimate and aggressive ball-carrying centre half on one of the league’s best teams.
With Canada dealing with long-term injuries to defenders Moise Bombito, Derek Cornelius and Alfie Jones, not to mention a central midfield that although relatively deep is still one injury away from eyebrows being raised, Priso is at the very least a highly intriguing talent who might be on the cusp of a breakthrough season.
Rayan Elloumi
From MLS NextPro to starting for the ‘Caps, the 2025 MLS season was nothing short of remarkable for Elloumi. He even earned himself a call-up to Tunisia’s U-23’s. This year’s World Cup may come too soon for the 18-year-old St. Albert, Alta. native, however it is not as if Canada is rich in proven attackers.
Stalwart Cyle Larin continues to struggle for goals in the Netherlands, and beyond Jonathan David, Promise David and Theo Bair it is not as if Canadians are competing at the top of the scoring charts across Europe on a regular basis.
Could Elloumi convince Marsch to take a flier on him at a World Cup? A strong camp and minutes against Guatemala would not hurt his case.
James Pantemis/Luka Gavran
With Dayne St. Clair and Max Crepeau not at camp while entrenched as Canada’s first-choice twosome between the pipes, both Pantemis and Gavran have a huge opportunity to mess with Marsch’s thinking.
Pantemis beat Crepeau to the starting job in Portland last season, resulting in the latter’s move to Orlando, while Gavran will enjoy the starting job in Toronto for the first time in his career due to the departure of Sean Johnson this winter.
Both goalkeepers deserve their opportunity, with Pantemis also able to draw from his experience as a member of the 2022 World Cup squad. The reality is that both men are essentially competing for the No. 3 role this summer, but with Huddersfield Town’s Owen Goodman impressing in his first camp last fall, but falling out of favour of late at his club in England, this is suddenly a battle to watch.
The Guatemala match may field an experimental Canada, with several new faces given their opportunity to impress. But following that acrimonious Gold Cup quarterfinal loss, where Jacob Shaffelburg’s first half red card tilted the match in Guatemala’s favour, expect nothing but typical Canadian tenacity, with much of the squad playing for more than just a result.
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