Buchanan, Cavallini, Kaye return for high-stakes CONCACAF Nations League series

Tajon Buchanan, Lucas Cavallini and Mark-Anthony Kaye return to the fold for Canada's high-stakes CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinal series against Jamaica later this month.

The trio has a combined 113 caps and 25 goals for Canada, with Cavallini accounting for 19 of them.

Canada, currently ranked 45th in the world, opens the two-legged series in Kingston, Jamaica, on Nov. 17 before hosting the 55th-ranked Reggae Boyz at Toronto's BMO Field four days later.

Making the Copa America field means facing elite opposition from outside CONCACAF, which covers North and Central America and the Caribbean. It's something the Canadian men need in spades ahead of co-hosting the 2026 World Cup.

The 10 CONMEBOL entries at Copa America feature seven teams currently ranked ahead of Canada, including World Cup champion Argentina (No. 1) and Brazil (No. 3).

Interim coach Mauro Biello has also called in midfielder Ali Ahmed, who made his senior debut in June against Guadeloupe at the Gold Cup. The 23-year-old Ahmed, coming off a breakthrough season with the Vancouver Whitecaps, has four caps to his credit.

WATCH | Biello wants to lead Canada into World Cup:

Canada also gets Stephen Eustaquio back. The influential FC Porto midfielder travelled for Canada's last outing, a 4-1 loss to No. 18 Japan on Oct. 13 in Niigata, but returned to his club before the game to rehab an injury.

Buchanan also missed out on the Japan game through injury.

Canada, Mexico, the U.S. and Costa Rica were given byes to the final eight of the CONCACAF Nations League competition, based on the March CONCACAF rankings. Panama, Jamaica, Honduras and Trinidad and Tobago advanced via a League A qualifying round in the September and October international windows.

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