Canada names domestic-based roster for pre-World Cup match vs. Bahrain

A 21-man squad heavy on players from Major League Soccer will make up Canada's roster for the team's penultimate friendly prior to the Qatar 2022 World Cup.

On Wednesday, Canada Soccer announced the roster for a Nov. 11 match against Bahrain in Arad, with all but one of the players coming from MLS. The friendly occurs outside of an official match window and serves to give game action to Canada's MLS-based players, many of whom have been inactive since the regular season ended on Oct. 9.

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Most of the players summoned by head coach John Herdman come from Canada's two MLS Eastern Conference clubs, with CF Montreal leading with way with eight players and Toronto FC supplying seven players. The Vancouver Whitecaps, Minnesota United, Nashville SC, LA Galaxy and MLS Cup host LAFC each have one player on the squad.

The lone non-MLS player on the roster is midfielder Liam Fraser of Belgian side KMSK Deinze. 

Following the Bahrain match, Canada will play one more pre-World Cup friendly, against Japan in Dubai on Nov. 17. That match will feature Herdman's final 26-man squad, which will be announced in the days prior.

The Canadians open their World Cup campaign on Nov. 23 against Belgium.

FULL CANADA SQUAD VS. BAHRAIN

GOALKEEPERS

• Maxime Crépeau (Los Angeles FC) 
• James Pantemis (CF Montréal) 
• Dayne St. Clair (Minnesota United)

DEFENDERS

• Zachary Brault-Guillard (CF Montréal)
• Raheem Edwards (LA Galaxy)
• Doneil Henry (Toronto FC)
• Alistair Johnston (CF Montréal)
• Richie Laryea (Toronto FC)
• Lukas MacNaughton (Toronto FC)
• Kamal Miller (CF Montréal)
• Joel Waterman (CF Montréal)

MIDFIELDERS

• Mathieu Choinière (CF Montréal)
• Liam Fraser (KMSK Deinze)
• Mark-Anthony Kaye (Toronto FC)
• Ismaël Koné (CF Montréal)
• Jonathan Osorio (Toronto FC)
• Samuel Piette (CF Montréal)

FORWARDS

• Ayo Akinola (Toronto FC)
• Lucas Cavallini (Vancouver Whitecaps)
• Jayden Nelson (Toronto FC)
• Jacob Shaffelburg (Nashville SC)