📰 Table Of Contents
Match Preview for Canada v Mexico
Two of the 2026 World Cup hosts Canada and Mexico will be looking to rubber-stamp their credentials to make their mark in 18 month’s time with a successful CONCACAF Nations League campaign.
The North American duo face off in the semi-finals at California’s SoFi Stadium on Thursday for a chance to face USA or Panama in the final.
Canada boss Jesse Marsch has made no secret of how big he feels success in this competition could be for his highly-rated crop of players, suggesting a triumph in Sunday’s final could send a message to the rest of the world.
“I think, more than anything, the players really want it,” Marsch told TSN’s Matthew Scianitti in Los Angeles on Tuesday. “They really feel like they’ve worked really hard to continue to develop the level and the respect of the Canadian national team.
“Where we are together at this moment, there’s also the political climate, and then what international matches mean in North America against each other. There’s a lot of little variables in there that change the dynamic.”
It’s almost time ⏳ pic.twitter.com/TyQyMYovVb
— Concacaf Nations League (@CNationsLeague) March 19, 2025
Marsch has also added that “This is the strongest that the Canadian national team has ever looked”, and with the likes of Alphonso Davies, Jonathan David, Alistair Johnston and Moïse Bombito, it is hard to argue with him.
But for all their promise, there is the sense that the Canadians are yet to deliver on the world stage after falling short in crucial moments at the 2022 World Cup and 2023 Nations League. With a World Cup looming, now is the time to show they can pull off a big-name result when it matters.
But Mexico, led by Javier Aguirre for his third spell, will certainly have something to say about stopping Canada’s rise.
El Tri are more experienced when it comes to longevity competing at the top level but are yet to deliver a Nations league triumph, having fallen short to the USA in both 2019-20 and 2023-24.
They probably find themselves as the lesser-fancied name of their fellow World Cup hosts for this tournament but Aguirre believes there is still pressure for the Mexicans to win the trophy.
“We just have to play good football. We have to play well,” he said.
“We have to execute the game plan and play a perfect game against Canada if we want to advance. We can’t make small mistakes.
“I think Mexico is prepared and able to defeat Canada. I truly believe that. If we execute the way we think we can, we’ll play in the final.”
Team news for Canada v Mexico
Canada will be without right-back Richie Laryea for this match due to a hamstring strain, with Zorhan Bassong being called up this week as a replacement.
Promise David, Daniel Jebbison and Tom McGill form part of an exciting set of young players coming through and all three will look to win their first caps for their country.
Davies and David are both expected to be involved, with the latter already becoming the Canucks’ leading goalscorer with 31 goals.
Aguirre has the welcome problem in choosing between in-form striking duo Raul Jimenez and Santi Gimenez up front, with both yet to replicate their club form to international level.
Hirving Lozano and Guillermo Ochoa were both surprise omissions from the latest squad.
Canada is ready for LA 🇨🇦 pic.twitter.com/d2Crdfv7NR
— Concacaf Nations League (@CNationsLeague) March 12, 2025
Predicted line-ups for Canada v Mexico
Canada: Crepeau; Johnston, Miller, Bombito, Davies; Shaffelburg, Kone, Eustaquio, Buchanan; David, Larin
Mexico: Malagon; Huescas, Montes, Vasquez, Gallardo; Ed. Alvarez, Rodriguez; Huerta, Romo, Vega; Gimenez
How to watch Canada v Mexico
The game kicks off at 10:30pm ET and is available to watch on Paramount+.
The stats
Prediction
Canada will go into the encounter as favourites and we are expecting them to lay down a marker against a Mexico side that is not the best that has been seen over years.
Marsch’s wealth of attacking options should see them through in California.
Canada 3-1 Mexico
