Soccer <\/p>\n
After eight years away, Montr\u00e9al still feels like home for the Canadian men\u2019s national team<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n For the five Qu\u00e9bec-raised players on the latest roster<\/a>, playing at CF Montr\u00e9al<\/a>‘s Stade Saputo for Friday\u2019s friendly against No. 25-ranked Australia marks a homecoming (7:30 pm ET | TSN, RDS, OneSoccer).<\/p>\n Even more so, considering Canada\u2019s rise since the last match in Qu\u00e9bec in 2017, when a FIFA World Cup<\/a> seemed like a distant dream. Now, they’re ranked No. 26 by FIFA and are barrelling towards a second straight World Cup appearance.<\/p>\n “It’s special for me personally to come back here, where I was born and raised and formed by this club,” said Portland Timbers<\/a> goalkeeper Maxime Cr\u00e9peau<\/a>, who debuted with Montr\u00e9al in 2013.<\/p>\n “It feels good to be back at home. Just speaking French feels weird sometimes; I’m so used to speaking English. … It’s something special to have the opportunity to play, where we grew up, where we were trained.”<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n It\u2019s also a return for head coach Jesse Marsch, who began his managerial career with Montr\u00e9al in the 2011 MLS season.<\/p>\n \u201cWe adamantly wanted to make sure in this window that we were playing [in Montr\u00e9al],\u201d Marsch said.<\/p>\n \u201cBecause I worked in Montr\u00e9al, I appreciate the uniqueness of what French Canada is and what Qu\u00e9bec is. But at the same time, all I care about is representing the national team and this country.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n \u2014 CANMNT (@CANMNT_Official) October 9, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote><\/div>\n As much as it’s a homecoming, it\u2019s also another vital step towards co-hosting the 2026 World Cup.<\/p>\n During the October window, the CanMNT play Australia and then No. 13-ranked Colombia. Both nations have qualified for the World Cup, providing a window into what awaits Marsch’s side next summer.<\/p>\n Canada will look to keep rising after clean-sheet wins at Romania and Wales in the September window, earning Marsch\u2019s praise as \u201cthe best 10 days\u201d of his tenure.<\/p>\n \u201cThese are the games that we need,\u201d Vancouver Whitecaps FC<\/a> attacker Jayden Nelson<\/a> told MLSsoccer.com. \u201cThe only mentality is to win these two games and to really take that next step towards being a good team for the World Cup.\u201d<\/p>\n Against Australia, Canada will look to refine their tactics against a similar side. They\u2019ve shown an ability to press, but adapting mid-game and breaking down a low block has proven challenging.<\/p>\n \u201cI no longer have to stand in front of [the players] and say that we’re a good team and should expect to win,\u201d added Marsch. \u201cI think they know that, now it’s just the details of where we are in our process, what the next steps are, and how to be ready for these matches.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n After the September window, Marsch emphasized the need for internal competition.<\/p>\n The central midfield sees a race between former Montr\u00e9al stars Nathan Saliba and Isma\u00ebl Kon\u00e9, LAFC<\/a>\u2019s Mathieu Choini\u00e9re<\/a>, and Hajduk Split\u2019s Niko Sigur for a role alongside FC Porto\u2019s Stephen Eust\u00e1quio.<\/p>\n On the wings, the mix of Vancouver\u2019s Nelson and Ali Ahmed,<\/a> as well as Villarreal\u2019s Tajon Buchanan, Nashville SC<\/a>\u2019s Jacob Shaffelburg<\/a>, Hull City FC\u2019s Liam Millar and others stands out.<\/p>\n At goalkeeper, Cr\u00e9peau and Minnesota United FC<\/a>\u2019s Dayne St. Clair<\/a> each started a game in September and appear likely to do so in October.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n \u201cIt\u2019s healthy competition and that just makes you a better player, because you have to push, or else you’re left out,\u201d Nelson said. \u201cWhether you’re coming off the bench or in training sessions, that’s something that is emphasized more now.<\/p>\n \u201cGuys are putting that extra effort to make an impact, and that’s what we need because it’s not going to be the only 11 guys on the pitch at the World Cup. It’s going to be the guys off the bench to finish the game as well.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\nWorld Cup test<\/strong><\/h3>\n<\/p>\n
Internal competition rises<\/strong><\/h3>\n<\/p>\n