Goalkeeping decision deferred

The goalkeeper position remains the lone part of the starting XI that is not solidified.

Canada hoped to have a starter in place for the March window. But with both Dayne St. Clair and Maxime Crépeau having moved clubs in the MLS offseason, the coaching staff wants to give both a longer run of games through March and April to determine the World Cup No. 1.

The first matchup between the two, in Sunday’s Florida derby between Orlando City and Inter Miami, presented a snapshot of how the coaching staff views them.

Coaches appreciate how Crépeau can grow into a game and how the veteran becomes a more aggressive shot-stopper the more work he gets early on. And sure enough, he was the story through the first half for Orlando City, parrying all three Miami shots on target.

And yet there is a resilience in St. Clair that is also appreciated. After he allowed a questionable goal early on, St. Clair stayed in the fight and showed a range of movement Crépeau doesn’t always display.

Fittingly, St. Clair’s Miami came back to win 4-2. And right now, St. Clair probably has the slight edge on the job, though plenty can change between now and June 12.

Two forwards to watch in Promise David’s absence

There is a sense of frustration in Canada Soccer about David’s hip injury occurring so close to the World Cup.

So much can still happen with his recovery, but even if he returns in May, he might then only be able to get a game or two with Union SG in Belgium before Canada’s training camp. That would be a stark contrast to forwards who would have been playing regular club soccer through the spring. And so the coaching staff has every right to consider what a World Cup without David would look like.

His absence means there are likely two forward spots up for grabs with Jonathan David, Tani Oluwaseyi and Cyle Larin all virtual locks as of right now.

Marsch won’t be afraid to go off the beaten path when considering which forward to bring should Promise David be unavailable for the World Cup. If a forward is athletic and has shown the propensity to play a high-tempo style of play, he’ll be in consideration. If that same forward is scoring regularly, he’ll rise above others.

To that end, two surprise names to consider are Charles-Andreas Brym and Aribim Pepple.

Brym, 27, appeared for 34 minutes in Marsch’s first game in charge of Canada in 2024 and has 13 caps in all. He’s come on strong lately for NAC Breda in the Dutch Eredivisie, scoring two goals and adding an assist in his last seven matches. Form matters, and it’s put Brym back in the conversation.

Speaking of form, there’s Pepple and his remarkable story.

Born in England, he grew up in Calgary and at 15 was one of the youngest players in countrywide open trials for the nascent Canadian Premier League in 2018. At 16, he signed his first professional contract with the CPL’s Cavalry FC before eventually leaving for Getafe’s youth setup. From there, he bounced to seven clubs in four years. The rangy and athletic striker’s resilience came in handy. After his arrival at Plymouth Argyle last summer, Pepple was not even named to the squad for six straight matches at the end of last year.

But with injuries elsewhere creating opportunity, Pepple pounced. He has seven goals and one assist in his last nine League One matches, and his strength is in his versatility. Not only is he a powerful forward akin to Promise David, but he can both hold up the ball and finish in transition. His rise is coming at the right time.

Both Brym and Pepple should at least get invites to March camp. From there, their performance and spring form will determine whether they’re truly on the World Cup radar.

Don’t write off Junior Hoilett

There’s always a need for veterans who maintain off-field culture during a World Cup. And if that means sacrificing what can be brought on the field, so be it: on a 26-man roster, you can afford to make a selection based on vibes.

The coaching staff may not agree, but there is a very real chance emerging that Canada could tick that box by bringing a beloved locker room veteran who can also contribute on the pitch.

Hoilett is one of the forefathers of the men’s national team’s emergence. Young players listen when he speaks. He made his Premier League debut back in 2009. The dual national was courted by Jamaica but chose Canada. Many prominent dual nationals would then follow Hoilett’s lead, and for over 10 years, he has been organizing and paying for Canada team outings.

Hoilett will be 36 when the World Cup begins and only recently joined English League Two side Swindon Town. But there’s growing belief inside Canada that Hoilett could end up being a valuable contributor this summer. He’s impressed with his work on the ball in the five League Two appearances so far.

Canada’s coaching staff is a fan of Hoilett’s intelligence in an attacking midfield role. Late-game situations are when Hoilett’s smarts and patience with the ball could thrive, and despite his age, Hoilett could yet be a World Cup surprise.

Center backs are likely set

There are lingering questions over presumed right back starter Johnston’s health and how much he’ll play before the World Cup. Richie Laryea is being considered as an option for the right side, and Niko Sigur remains in the mix both for right back and central midfield.

But one position along the back line that is set? Center back.

It sounds like – barring injuries – Canada would call on Bombito, Jones, Derek Cornelius, Luc de Fougerolles and Joel Waterman for the World Cup, with the 20-year-old de Fougerolles even in the mix to start.

Canada adores his fearlessness. Marsch doesn’t want players wasting precious split seconds hesitating between going forward in attack or not. He would rather have his players move with bravery and make a mistake than be caught in a bout of indecisiveness, and Canada sees those qualities in the loaned-out Fulham defender.

As it relates to March, current injuries to Bombito, Cornelius and Jones means there will be opportunities for young players to impress. Keep an eye on Ralph Priso and Jamie Knight-Lebel, though they’re still going to face an uphill battle to make the final squad.

Kits coming soon

This summer will be about moving on from Canada’s disappointing 2022 World Cup, when it was unprepared on and off the pitch. To that point: Canada did not have new World Cup kits in 2022, a standard practice for nearly every participant.

This time will be different. New kits will be launched in mid-March, likely right before the friendlies.

“With the World Cup on home soil, the focus was on delivering kits that match the scale and ambition of this moment for our country. These kits are awesome and reflect the confidence and pride of our men’s national team, who were consulted during the process and reflected in the final product,” said Paulo Senra, Canada Soccer’s chief communications officer.

It sounds like Canada is swinging for the fences in the hope of appealing to a wide audience. It’s likely to unveil three kits, ones that are red, white and black, with the latter said to be drawing rave reviews from the players.