VANCOUVER, BC – Vancouver Whitecaps FC defender Sam Adekugbe and midfielder Ali Ahmed have been called up to Canada's men's national team for a pair of upcoming international friendlies in September.
“We’re excited to get the group back together after a positive Copa América. We’re eager to play against two of the best teams in our region to help prepare us for the upcoming Concacaf competitions,” said Jesse Marsch, MLS Canada men’s national team head coach.
The duo will join up with Canada ahead of their opening friendly of the window against the United States on Saturday, September 7, which is set to take place at Children's Mercy Park in Kansas City, Kansas.
Canada will then round out the window with a match against Mexico on Tuesday, September 10 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
Both matches will air live on OneSoccer, available on the fuboTV Canada platform, as a linear channel on Telus’s Optik TV (Channel 980), as well as online at OneSoccer.ca and through the OneSoccer app.
Due to their call-ups, Adekugbe and Ahmed will miss the 'Caps MLS regular season home match against FC Dallas on Saturday, September 7.
This marks Adekugbe's first call-up to Canada since starting a Concacaf Nations League away match against Jamaica in November 2023. The 'Caps Homegrown product has made 42 appearances since debuting for Canada in 2015, scoring one goal and adding five assists. So far this season, Adekugbe has tallied two assists in eight appearances for the 'Caps across all competitions.
Meanwhile, Ahmed most recently suited up for Canada at the 2024 Copa América, starting one of his three appearances at the tournament as Canada reached the semifinals in their first-ever Copa América. A product of the club's MLS NEXT Pro side Whitecaps FC 2 (WFC2), Ahmed has started five of his seven appearances for the national team since making his debut in the 2023 Concacaf Gold Cup. In 2024, Ahmed has posted 16 starts and 22 appearances for the 'Caps, scoring once in the away match against San Jose Earthquakes back in March.
In addition to Adekugbe and Ahmed, six former Whitecaps FC alum were named to the roster in Theo Bair, Derek Cornelius, Maxime Crépeau, Alphonso Davies, Richie Laryea, and Jonathan Sirois, along with BC natives Niko Sigur and Joel Waterman.
CANMNT Roster for September window
Player | Age | City in which they grew up | Notable Canadian youth clubs
Adekugbe, Sam | 29 | Calgary, AB, CAN | Calgary Foothills SC
Ahmed, Ali | 23 | Toronto, ON, CAN | North Toronto SC
Afrifa, Stephen | 23 | Toronto, ON, CAN | Woodbridge Strikers SC
Bair, Theo | 24 | Ottawa, ON, CAN | Ottawa Royals
Bombito, Moïse | 24 | Montréal, QC, CAN | CS Saint-Laurent
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
Eustáquio, Stephen | 27 | Leamington, ON, CAN & Nazaré, POR | Leamington MS
Johnston, Alistair | 25 | Aurora, ON, CAN | Lakeshore SC
Larin, Cyle | 29 | Brampton, ON, CAN | Brampton YSC
Laryea, Richie | 29 | Toronto, ON, CAN | Club Uruguay Toronto
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
Shaffelburg, Jacob | 24 | Port Williams, NS, CAN | Valley United SC
Sigur, Niko | 20 | Burnaby, BC, CAN | Mountain United FC
Sirois, Jonathan | 23 | Lasalle, QC, CAN | CS St-Hubert
St. Clair, Dayne | 27 | Pickering, ON, CAN | Ephinay Church Soccer League
Waterman, Joel | 28 | Surrey, BC, CAN | Surrey United SC
