Star left back Alphonso Davies fronts Canada roster for Copa America qualifying playoff

Alphonso Davies, who needed dental work after taking a boot to the face on the weekend for Bayern Munich, is among the 23 players called up by interim head coach Mauro Biello for Canada's crucial Copa America qualifying playoff against Trinidad and Tobago.

The 50th-ranked Canadian men take on the 96th-ranked Soca Warriors on March 23 in Frisco, Texas, with the winner slotting into Group A alongside top-ranked Argentina, No. 33 Peru and No. 42 Chile at this summer's Copa America.

It's a key outing for Canada, which is looking to face elite opposition in its buildup to co-hosting the 2026 World Cup. It's also important for Biello, who is a candidate for the permanent coaching position.

Canada was forced into the playoff after losing the CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinal in November to No. 57 Jamaica on the away goals rule with the two-legged series knotted at 4-4.

The 13th-ranked U.S., No. 15 Mexico, No. 44 Panama and Jamaica — the four quarterfinal winners — have already booked their ticket as CONCACAF guest teams at the 16-team Copa America that runs June 20 to July 14 across 14 U.S. cities.

No. 54 Costa Rica takes on No. 78 Honduras in the other play-in match March 23.

The Canadians are slated to gather in Texas on Monday to prepare for the Trinidad game.

"The squad is filled with young, in-form talent," Biello said in a statement. "This is a chance for guys to come in with a fresh attitude to form a new culture."

Canada Soccer calls the roster the youngest men's squad since 2019, with all but one player (31-year-old midfielder Jonathan Osorio of Toronto FC) under the age of 30. Six are 23 or younger.

Eleven players are from Major League Soccer, including four from CF Montreal (goalkeeper Jonathan Sirois, defender