VANCOUVER, BC - Vancouver Whitecaps FC confirmed on Thursday that defender Marcel de Jong, and midfielders Marco Bustos and Ben McKendry, as well as Whitecaps FC 2 goalkeeper Sean Melvin, have been named to the Canadian senior men’s national team's 18-man roster for an upcoming friendly versus Bermuda.
The national team recently concluded training camp in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. They now look ahead to their first international match of the year on Sunday, January 22 at the Bermuda National Stadium.
"It has been a vibrant and positive atmosphere," said Michael Findlay, Canada interim head coach. "It has been a very competitive environment and it has provided us with some early assessment and evaluation for the 2017 season."
Alongside with preparing for the international match, the camp is structured to give players an early jump on the 2017 season ahead of their club preseasons.
Looking to earn the 50th cap of his international career, De Jong has scored three times wearing the Red and White. Bustos has four senior international appearances under his belt.
#CANMNT travel with 18 players to Bermuda, including Marcel de Jong who could make his 50th international appearance pic.twitter.com/V97gJvzcz2
— Canada Soccer (@CanadaSoccerEN) January 19, 2017
McKendry and Melvin each could be making their senior international debut versus Bermuda.
As many as 5 players could make their #CANMNT debut this Sunday against Bermuda. pic.twitter.com/AI7BqFZcdU
— Canada Soccer (@CanadaSoccerEN) January 19, 2017
Also on the roster are former Whitecaps FC Residency players Ben Fisk. Callum Irving, and Adam Straith.
CANADA vs. BERMUDA
The January 22 match kicks off at 11 a.m. PT and will be broadcast live on canadasoccer.com.
This will mark the ninth meeting between the two nations, dating back to FIFA World Cup Qualifiers in 1968. Canada are unbeaten in that stretch with four wins and four draws, including a 3-0 win in their last meeting on March 25, 2007.
Over the past two years, Canada's overall record is 9W-8L-7D in 24 international matches against all opponents.
CANADA
1- GK- Sean Melvin | CAN / Whitecaps FC 2
3- CB- Nana Attakora | USA / San Francisco Deltas
4- CB- Dejan Jaković | Unattached
5- CB- Wandrille Lefèvre | CAN / Impact Montréal
6- M- Marco Bustos | CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps FC
7- M- Kyle Bekker | Unattached
8- M- Will Johnson | USA / Orlando City SC
9- F- Anthony Jackson-Hamel | CAN / Impact Montréal
10- M- Jonathan Osorio | CAN / Toronto FC
11- F- Tosaint Ricketts | CAN / Toronto FC
12- FB / M- Maxim Tissot | Unattached
13- M- Ben McKendry | CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps FC
14- M- Ben Fisk | CAN / FC Edmonton
15- M- Adam Straith | Unattached
16- M- Jay Chapman | CAN / Toronto FC
17- FB- Marcel de Jong | CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps FC
22- GK- Callum Irving | CAN / Ottawa Fury FC
23- M- Tesho Akindele | USA / FC Dallas
