Canada coach Jesse Marsch will have a new goalkeeper in camp for games against Romania and Wales in the September FIFA international window.
But while he is excited to bring Atlanta United's Jayden Hibbert into the fold, Marsch's bigger goalkeeping question is who is his No. 1. Dayne St. Clair (Minnesota United) and Maxime Crepeau (Portland Timbers) have shared the starting role in recent months, with St. Clair nosing ahead recently.
"When you talk to the players or the staff about our two goalkeepers, everyone has such a high level of respect for both of them. But I think everyone does see the need for there to be a decision made so that that particular goalkeeper can have a run of games where they feel like they're firmly fixed into the (starting) role," Marsch said Tuesday after naming his roster for the September friendlies.
"So I don't have an answer right now but I am aware of the fact that we need to make that decision at some point here to give both goalkeepers clarity."
As for the rest of his first-choice squad ahead of the World Cup, Marsch says the picture is "becoming clearer and clearer."
Hibbert could be one for the future with Marsch calling his talent potential "something very unique and big."
Born in New Jersey to a mother from Mississauga, Ont., and father from Jamaica, the 21-year-old Hibbert made his debut for Jamaica in a pair of friendlies against Trinidad and Tobago in March 2024. Because they were friendlies, Hibbert is free to play for Canada.
And since both Canada outings in the September window are also friendlies, his international options remain open.
"The discussions with him from the beginning are that he's very interested and most interested in representing Canada," Marsch said. "I know he's felt pressure from Jamaica and that (manager) Steve McClaren has actually personally reached out to him and tried to convince him to stay with Jamaica. But Jayden has made it clear that this is something that he really wants to pursue and something he feels very strongly about."
Hibbert, selected in the first round (19th overall) of the 2024 MLS SuperDraft out of the University of Connecticut, recorded his first clean sheet in his third career start for Atlanta on Sunday in a goalless draw with visiting Toronto FC.
The 28th-ranked Canadian men face No. 48 Romania on Sept. 5 in Bucharest and No. 31 Wales on Sept. 9 in Swansea, followed by games against No. 24 Australia on Oct. 10 in Montreal and No. 14 Colombia on Oct. 14 in Harrison, N.J.
Canada has not beaten a European team in Europe since downing Belarus 1-0 in March 2011 in Antalya, Turkey.
Marsch said another priority for his team is strengthening its leadership and mentality — and understanding how to handle the pressure of the World Cup.
Canada's last action was a penalty shootout loss to Guatemala at the Gold Cup quarterfinal June 29 in Minneapolis.
While Canada has never played Romania before, it is 2-1-0 all-time against the Welsh.
Canada won 2-0 and lost 3-0 when the two sides met in Toronto and Vancouver, respectively, in May 1986, ahead of Canada's debut trip to the World Cup. The Welsh won 1-0 in Wrexham in May 2004.
The Canadian men are without the injured Alphonso Davies, Alistair Johnson, Moise Bombito, Liam Millar and Sam Adekugbe.
Forward Daniel Jebbison could be added to the roster if Cyle Larin has to leave the team with his wife expecting a baby.
Several Canadians arrive in camp after making their mark with new teams.
Forward Jonathan David and midfielder Nathan Saliba have both opened their scoring account with Italy's Juventus and Belgium's Anderlecht, respectively. Winger Tajon Buchanan, who made his loan move to Villarreal CF from Inter Milan permanent last month, scored a hat trick for the Spanish side on the weekend.
Ismael Kone is also in Italy, on loan to newly promoted Sassuolo from France's Marseille.
Defender Luc de Fougerolles (on loan to Belgium's F.C.V. Dender from England's Fulham), midfielder Mathieu Choinière (on loan to Los Angeles FC from Switzerland's Grasshopper Club Zurich) and defender Joel Waterman (traded to the Chicago Fire by CF Montreal) have also switched teams.
The 24-man roster features 12 MLS players, including Vancouver's Ali Ahmed and Jayden Nelson, Toronto FC's Richie Laryea and midfielder Jahkeele Marshall-Rutty, on loan at Charlotte FC from CF Montreal.
There is also a return for 35-year-old forward Junior Hoilett, who plays in Scotland for Hibernian.
There is no place for veteran midfielder Jonathan Osorio, however.
Marsch said he reluctantly opted to omit the Toronto FC captain, who has 85 caps, and Portland defender Kamal Miller (49 caps) for this window so as to pick more European-based players given the location of the games.
Thirteen of the 24 players called in are 25 or younger.
Canada Roster
Goalkeepers: Maxime Crepeau, Portland Timbers (MLS); Jayden Hibbert, Atlanta United (MLS); Dayne St. Clair, Minnesota United (MLS)
Defenders: Zorhan Bassong, Sporting Kansas City (MLS), Derek Cornelius, Olympique de Marseille (France); Luc de Fougerolles, F.C.V. Dender E.H. (Belgium), on loan from Fulham (England); Jamie Knight-Lebel, Bristol City (England); Richie Laryea, Toronto FC (MLS): Jahkeele Marshall-Rutty, Charlotte FC, on loan from CF Montreal (MLS); Niko Sigur, Hajduk Split (Croatia); Joel Waterman, Chicago Fire (MLS)
Midfielders: Ali Ahmed, Vancouver Whitecaps (MLS); Tajon Buchanan, Villarreal CF (Spain); Mathieu Choiniere, LAFC (MLS), on loan from Grasshopper Zurich (Switzerland); Stephen Eustáquio, FC Porto (Portugal); Junior Hoilett, Hibernian (Scotland); Ismaël Kone, U.S. Sassuolo Calcio (Italy), on loan from Olympique de Marseille (France); Jayden Nelson, Vancouver Whitecaps (MLS); Nathan Saliba, Anderlecht (Belgium); Jacob Shaffelburg, Nashville SC (MLS).
Forwards: Jonathan David, Juventus (Italy); Promise David, Royale Union Saint-Gilloise (Belgium); Cyle Larin, RCD Mallorca (Spain); Tani Oluwaseyi, Minnesota United (MLS)
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This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 26, 2025
Neil Davidson, The Canadian Press
