VANCOUVER, BC – Vancouver Whitecaps FC confirmed on Saturday that midfielder Ali Ahmed has been named to Canada's men's national team's final roster for the 2024 Copa América. The 48th edition of the Copa América, co-organized by CONMEBOL and Concacaf, is set to be played in 14 stadiums across 13 cities in the United States and all matches will be live on TSN.
Canada, who has been drawn into Group A, will begin group stage play next Thursday, June 20 against defending World Cup champions Argentina in the opening match of the tournament. Kickoff from Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia is set for 5 p.m. PT.
Canada's second group stage match will see them face Peru on Tuesday, June 25 at Children's Mercy Park in Kansas City, Kansas. Kickoff is set for 3 p.m. PT.
Finally, Ahmed and Canada will close out their group stage against Chile on Saturday, June 29 at Inter & Co Stadium in Orlando, Florida. Kickoff is set for 5 p.m. PT.
A product of the club's MLS NEXT Pro side Whitecaps FC 2 (WFC2), Ahmed received his first call-up to Canada’s men’s national team for the 2023 Concacaf Gold Cup, making his debut as a starter in the opening group stage match against Guadeloupe. In total, Ahmed started all four of Canada’s matches at the tournament.
So far this season, Ahmed has started 12 of his 18 appearances across all competitions for the 'Caps, recording a goal and an assist.
All-time, Ahmed has made 29 starts and 50 appearances since joining Whitecaps FC in April 2022, adding four goals as well as three assists.
CANADA’S SQUAD
Canada’s three goalkeepers this window will be Maxime Crépeau from Portland Timbers, Thomas McGill from Brighton & Hove Albion and Dayne St. Clair from Minnesota United FC.
Defenders selected incluide Moïse Bombito from Colorado Rapids, Derek Cornelius from Malmo FF, Alphonso Davies from Bayern Munich, Luc de Fougerolles from Fulham FC, Kyle Hiebert from St. Louis CITY SC, Alistair Johnston from Celtic FC, Richie Laryea from Toronto FC and Kamal Miller from Portland Timbers.
Midfielders joining Ahmed are Mathieu Choinière from CF Montréal, Stephen Eustáquio from FC Porto, Ismaël Konéfrom Watford FC, Jonathan Osorio from Toronto FC and Samuel Piette from CF Montréal.
The rest of the squad will feature forwards Theo Bair from Motherwell, Tajon Buchanan from Inter Milan, Jonathan David from LOSC Lille, Junior Hoilett from Aberdeen FC, Cyle Larin from RCD Mallorca, Liam Millar from FC Basel, Tani Oluwaseyi from Minnesota United FC, Jacen-Russell Rowe from Columbus Crew and Jacob Shaffelburg from Nashville SC.
CANADA
1 – Dayne St. Clair | USA / Minnesota United FC
2 – Alistair Johnston | SCO / Celtic FC
3 – Luc de Fougerolles | ENG / Fulham FC
4 – Kamal Miller | USA / Portland Timbers
5 – Kyle Hiebert | USA / St. Louis CITY SC
6 – Samuel Piette | CAN / CF Montréal
7 – Stephen Eustáquio | POR / FC Porto
8 – Ismaël Koné | ENG / Watford FC
9 – Cyle Larin | SPA / RCD Mallorca
10 – Jonathan David | FRA / LOSC Lille
11 – Theo Bair | SCO / Motherwell FC
12 – Jacen Russell-Rowe | USA / Columbus Crew
13 – Derek Cornelius | SWE / Malmö FF
14 – Jacob Shaffelburg | USA / Nashville SC
15 – Moïse Bombito | USA / Colorado Rapids
16 – Maxime Crépeau | USA / Portland Timbers
17 – Tajon Buchanan | ITA / Inter Milan
18 – Thomas McGill | ENG / Brighton & Hove Albion FC
19 – Alphonso Davies | GER / Bayern Munich
20 – Junior Hoilett | SCO / Aberdeen FC
21 – Jonathan Osorio | CAN / Toronto FC
22 – Richie Laryea | CAN / Toronto FC 23 – Liam Millar | SWI / FC Basel
24 – Mathieu Choinière | CAN / CF Montréal
25 – Tani Oluwaseyi | USA / Minnesota United FC
26 – Ali Ahmed | CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps FC
CANADA A-Z
Player | Age | City in which they grew up | Notable Canadian youth clubs
Ahmed, Ali | 23 | Toronto, ON | North Toronto SC
Bair, Theo | 24 | Ottawa, ON, CAN | Ottawa Royals
Bombito, Moïse | 24 | Montréal, QC, CAN | Cs Saint-Laurent
Buchanan, Tajon | 25 | Brampton, ON, CAN | Brampton YSC
Choinière, Mathieu | 25 | St-Alexandre, QC, CAN | AS Haut-Richelieu
Cornelius, Derek | 26 | Ajax, ON, CAN | Ajax SC
Crépeau, Maxime | 30 | Candiac, QC, CAN | Ligue de soccer pour enfants de Candiac
David, Jonathan | 24 | Ottawa, ON, CAN | Ottawa Gloucester Dragons
Davies, Alphonso | 23 | Edmonton, AB, CAN | Edmonton Inter
de Fougerolles, Luc | 18 | London, ENG | Battersea Bedhead
Eustáquio, Stephen | 27 | Leamington, ON, CAN & Nazaré, POR | Leamington MS
Hiebert, Kyle | 26 | La Salle, MB, CAN | Linden Woods
Hoilett, David Junior | 34 | Brampton, ON, CAN | Brampton YSC
Johnston, Alistair | 25 | Aurora, ON, CAN | Lakeshore SC
Koné, Ismaël | 22 | Montréal, QC, CAN | AS Notre-Dame-de-Grâce
Larin, Cyle | 29 | Brampton, ON, CAN | Brampton YSC
Laryea, Richie | 29 | Toronto, ON, CAN | Club Uruguay Toronto
McGill, Tom | 24 | Brighton and Hove, ENG | Brighton & Hove Albion
Millar, Liam | 24 | Brampton, ON, CAN | Brampton YSC
Miller, Kamal | 27 | Scarborough, ON, CAN | Scarborough Malvern SC
Oluwaseyi, Tani | 24 | Mississauga, ON, CAN | GPS Academy
Osorio, Jonathan | 32 | Brampton, ON, CAN | Toronto Futsal League
Piette, Samuel | 29 | Le Gardeur, QC, CAN | Lionceaux de le Gardeur
Russell-Rowe, Jacen | 21 | Brampton, ON, CAN | Brampton YSC
Shaffelburg, Jacob | 24 | Port Williams, NS, CAN | Valley United SC
St. Clair, Dayne | 27 | Pickering, ON, CAN | Ephinay Church Soccer League
