Canada men's soccer head coach Jesse Marsch calls on 21 players for January camp

Canada's men's soccer head coach Jesse Marsch has called in 21 players for a camp that runs Thursday through Jan. 18 in California.

Given the camp in Irvine does not fall during a FIFA international window, Marsch has chosen players out of season, with all but one based in North America.

The Canadian squad will face Guatemala on Jan. 17 at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles in a game classified as a Tier 1 international that will count towards FIFA's world rankings. Canada is currently ranked 27th in the world -- and third in CONCACAF behind the U.S. and Mexico -- while Guatemala is 10th in the region at No. 94.

"We're excited to have an extra opportunity to have a men's national team camp ahead of a massive year," Marsch said in a statement Tuesday. "We have a very talented squad of North American-based players who will be hungry to prove themselves."

Canada and Guatemala last met in the Gold Cup quarterfinals in June 2025 with the Central Americans prevailing 6-5 in a penalty shootout after the game finished knotted at 1-1. Canada was reduced to 10 men when winger Jacob Shaffelburg was sent off in first-half stoppage time.

LAFC's Shaffelburg and Mathieu Choiniere are included in the California camp roster, along with Toronto FC's Richie Laryea and Jonathan Osorio. All four are likely World Cup-bound.

Other camp invitees will be looking to advance their cause.

Defenders Kamal Miller (Portland Timbers) and Joel Waterman (Chicago Fire) and midfielder Jayden Nelson (Austin FC) will be hoping for a spot on Marsch's 26-man World Cup roster, with Luka Gavran (Toronto FC) and James Pantemis (Portland) among those vying for the third goalkeeper position behind Dayne St. Clair and Max Crepeau.

St. Clair and Crepeau are not part