Our long national nightmare is over: Tajon Buchanan is finally locked into Steven Caldwell’s Canada starting XI for next summer’s 2026 FIFA World Cup.
He had resisted it for weeks, but Caldwell has finally relented. And it wasn’t just for one reason. It wasn’t just because Buchanan scored his fourth La Liga goal of the season in Villarreal’s 2-2 draw with Real Betis on Saturday. It wasn’t just because Buchanan had another fine camp with Canada in matches against Australia and Colombia. Caldwell ultimately made the move because the 26-year-old winger has consistently performed for club and country over an extended period of time and Canada is better when the Brampton, Ont. native is at his best.
Buchanan’s ascent to lock status wasn’t the only news for Canada’s wingers over the weekend.
Alphonso Davies, out since a CONCACAF Nations League match last spring against the United States, is nearing game action. Bayern Munich manager Vincent Kompany says the Edmonton-raised Davies could see game action in only a few weeks.
“It’s looking very good for him; I think the medical department and Phonzie are working well together,” Kompany said ahead of Bayern’s 2-1 win over Borussia Dortmund on Saturday in Der Klassiker. “I was hoping for early January, maybe even a bit sooner. Now the body has to react to the workload week by week. Things are going well at the moment. If he can play a few games in December, then everyone will have done a great job.”
Here’s a look at Caldwell’s updated Canada team.
Race for the Roster: Week 20 (4-4-2)
Forwards
STARTERS: Jonathan David (Juventus) and Cyle Larin (Feyenoord, on loan from Mallorca)
BENCH: Promise David (Union SG), Daniel Jebbison (Preston North End, on loan from Bournemouth) and Tani Oluwaseyi (Villarreal)
Midfield and Defenders
STARTING MIDFIELDERS: Alphonso Davies (Bayern Munich) INJ, Niko Sigur (Hajduk Split), Stephen Eustaquio (Porto) and Tajon Buchanan (Villarreal)
BENCH: Jacob Shaffelburg (Nashville), Ismael Koné (Sassuolo, on loan from Marseille), David “Junior” Hoilett (Hibernian), Nathan Saliba (Anderlecht), Mathieu Choiniere (Los Angeles FC) and Ali Ahmed (Vancouver Whitecaps)
STARTING DEFENDERS: Richie Laryea (Toronto FC), Derek Cornelius (Rangers, on loan from Marseille), Moise Bombito (Nice) INJ and Alistair Johnston (Celtic) INJ
BENCH: Sam Adekugbe (Vancouver Whitecaps) INJ, Jamie Knight-Lebel (Swindon Town, on loan from Bristol City), Joel Waterman (Chicago Fire) and Luc de Fougerolles (Dender, on loan from Fulham)
Goalkeeper
STARTER: Dayne St. Clair (Minnesota United)
BENCH: Maxime Crepeau (Portland Timbers) and Tom McGill (Brighton)
IN THE HUNT: : James Pantemis (Portland Timbers) and Jonathan Sirois (CF Montreal)
