VANCOUVER, BC – Vancouver Whitecaps FC confirmed on Wednesday that defenders Fraser Aird, Marcel de Jong, and David Edgar, and midfielder Marco Bustos have been called up to the Canadian senior men’s national team for an upcoming training camp and friendly versus Korea Republic. Players unavailable due to injury include Whitecaps FC players Sam Adekugbe, Brett Levis, Ben McKendry, and Russell Teibert.
The match will be played at Cheonan Baekseok Stadium on Friday, November 11 and will be broadcast live on CanadaSoccer.com. Kickoff is at 3 a.m. PT.
"We are looking to set a real solid performance standard with this match," said Canada interim head coach Michael Findlay. "The travel and logistics of this camp and opponent we will face in this match also provides us with an opportunity to assess the players' ability to adapt both on and off the field."
Canada's 18-man roster features a mix of experience and youth. De Jong and Edgar, who have 48 and 40 senior international matches under their belt respectively, will help guide a squad with eight players 24 years or under. 21-year-old Aird and 20-year-old Bustos each enter the training camp with three senior international appearances to their names.
The four 'Caps players return to the national team after participating in last month's training camp, which included friendlies versus Mauritania and Morocco.
Korea Republic are currently in the fourth round of the Asia Football Confederation's 2018 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers. The friendly with Canada will help Korea Republic prepare for their qualifying match against Uzbekistan on Tuesday, November 15.
"They are a nation that are in the group stage of their FIFA World Cup qualifying as well as preparing to host the FIFA U-20 World Cup Korea Republic 2017, so there will be a great atmosphere and buzz across the country," said Findlay. "We look forward to gaining valuable experience playing in front of their crowd and that atmosphere."
Canada and Korea Republic are meeting for the first time since 2002. The two national sides have split their previous five matchups with each having a 2W-2L-1D record.
Canada have an all-time record of 13W-14L-3D in 27 international matches against Asian opponents.
CANADA
1- GK- Simon Thomas | NOR / FK Bodø/Glimt
2- FB / M- Fraser Aird | CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps FC
3- CB / M- Manjrekar James | HUN / Vasas Budapest
4- CB- Dejan Jaković | JPN / Shimizu S-Pulse
5- CB- David Edgar | CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps FC
6- M- Charlie Trafford | POL / MKS Korona Kielce
8- M- Marco Bustos | CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps FC
9- F- Marcus Haber | SCO / Dundee FC
10- M- David Junior Hoilett | WAL / Cardiff City FC
11- FB / M- Maxim Tissot | CAN / Ottawa Fury FC
12- FB / M- Jamar Dixon | CAN / Ottawa Fury FC
14- M- Samuel Piette | ESP / CD Izarra
15- M- Adam Straith | NOR / Fredrikstad FK
17- FB- Marcel De Jong | CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps FC
18- GK- Jayson Leutwiler | ENG / Shrewsbury Town FC
19- CB- Steven Vitória | POL / Lechia Gdańsk
20- CB / FB- Karl W. Ouimette | USA / Jacksonville Armada
21- F- Cyle Larin | USA / Orlando City SC
