In Canada's penultimate pre-World Cup tune-up match, Canada came away 2-0 winners over Uzbekistan on a soggy evening in Edmonton.
The weather was very much a factor, with about 70 mm of rain falling up to and including kick-off on Commonwealth Stadium's recently sodded turf pitch, laid over top of the usual artificial surface. How that pitch would hold up was at the forefront of many people's minds. However, the freshly laid sod held up fine.
Under normal circumstances this match would have featured Canada's full 26-man roster with virtually all positions and roles defined. However, the spectre of injury has rendered these anything but normal circumstances for Canada.
Unavailable for Canada on the night were captain Alphonso Davies, Marcelo Flores, Ali Ahmed, and Jacob Shaffelburg. Marcelo Flores tore his ACL in his right knee just 48 hours before and will need to be replaced on the roster, whereas the other three are still recovering from injuries incurred weeks earlier but are still expected to be available for the tournament.
A host of other players were only available for limited minutes at best, including Promise David, Moise Bombito, Richie Laryea, Luc De Fougerolles, and Alfie Jones. All managed to put in varying shifts without incident, with the exception of Moise Bombito, who was seen limping to the training room after just 30 minutes and was still walking gingerly after the game.
Tonight’s starters, presented by @GE_Appliances
— CANMNT (@CANMNT_Official) June 2, 2026
🍁 Moïse returns to the lineup
🍁 Buchanan and Millar on the flanks
🍁 Cyle and JD lead the line
🇨🇦 🇺🇿 #CANMNT #OurGameNow pic.twitter.com/UGPXuzZUy3
Canada's starting XI looked as close as possible to what might be expected as their tournament opening line-up. This gave many pause to believe that Maxime Crépeau may be tipped to be Canada's starting goalkeeper for the tournament, despite Jesse Marsch cautioning against making assumptions from his previously announced plan to play Crépeau in the first half and Dayne St. Clair in the second.
The match started with fireworks in the form of a second-minute yellow card issued to Uzbekistan's Aziz Ganiev for a studs-up challenge on Derek Cornelius' ankle, and a ninth-minute yellow for his compatriot Farrukh Sayfiev for another offence.
The first real chance for either side came in the seventh minute for Uzbekistan, as Eldor Shomurodov was put clean through on Crépeau. A rusty Bombito was able to catch up to Shomurodov but was unable to execute the tackle. Fortunately, Shomurodov's attempted chip fell well wide of the Canadian net.
Canada's first decent opportunity came in the 26th minute after Tajon Buchanan won a free kick on the right wing that was taken quickly, but Eustáquio's attempted cross was parried just wide of the Uzbek post by keeper Abduvohid Nematov.
Maxime Crépeau was called into action again on another breakaway in the 27th minute but skilfully pushed aside the shot after Canada's rusty back line was pierced again.
CRÉPEAU MAKES THE STOP ON THE BREAKAWAY!#FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/mz8wg73DAA
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) June 2, 2026
In the 30th minute, Cyle Larin had his first shot, though it was from distance and never challenged the Uzbek keeper as it drifted wide of the net. This was a theme for both of Canada's starting strikers, as neither found themselves in dangerous areas inside the Uzbek area.
This was immediately followed by the first substitutions for Canada, as Richie Laryea and Moise Bombito made way for Niko Sigur and Luc De Fougerolles. The early changes appeared to have been planned ahead of the game. While Laryea looked fairly comfortable in his first game in over a month, Bombito looked out of form and struggled throughout much of his short shift. Observing Bombito limping out of the stadium was not a good sign for an important defender.
Well... that doesn't look good 😬
— OneSoccer (@onesoccer) June 2, 2026
Moïse Bombito heads straight down the tunnel, ice pack on his tibia, alongside CanMNT 🇨🇦 medical staff after 30-minute return to play vs. Uzbekistan 🇺🇿 pic.twitter.com/qZwJsmAdOt
Before the end of the half, Crépeau came up with what would have been a big save on a set piece in the 44th minute, but the flag had already come up for offside.
The first half was a fairly dour affair, between the poor pitch conditions and the physical tackling of the visitors from Uzbekistan. While Canada had some nice movements and passages of play going forward, especially in the closing minutes of the half, they were few and far between. There was not too much for Jesse Marsch to take from the first half performance.
As expected, Marsch made wholesale changes at half-time. Larin, Millar, Eustáquio, Koné, Buchanan, Johnston, and Crépeau made way for Oluwaseyi, Nelson, Osorio, Saliba, Choinière, St. Clair, and Priso at left back. Only Jonathan David and Cornelius remained on the pitch from the start of the match.
The second half began sluggishly, as can be expected when so many personnel changes are made. However, in the 58th minute, that all changed when Jonathan Osorio was found open on the right wing at the edge of the box and deposited his shot, with a slight deflection off the keeper, into the back of the net. Tani Oluwaseyi was perfectly placed with his pass for the assist on the goal that put the hosts up 1-0.
JONATHAN OSORIO OPENS THE SCORING FOR CANADA 🇨🇦#FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/DQIx7ORkZx
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) June 2, 2026
The opening goal also opened up the game, as Uzbekistan could no longer be content to sit back and absorb pressure if they wanted to get a result. As Uzbekistan attempted to bring the game to Canada, the hosts were able to resort to their preferred tactics of winning the ball back and counter-attacking with speed in transition.
There was a very good sign for Canada in the 70th minute as Promise David and Alfie Jones returned to the playing field, replacing Jonathan David and Derek Cornelius. Promise had not played in over three months, and Jones had not played since Boxing Day.
Within minutes of coming on, Promise David looked to have put Canada up 2-0, but he was narrowly denied by the flag of the assistant referee. It would have been a dream return for the powerful striker.
Promise David scores shortly after coming on as a sub but the flag is up for offside. Goal does not count.#FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/qzaDZndCDi
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) June 2, 2026
Uzbekistan kept trying to press an advantage. Soon it was Dayne St. Clair's turn to deal with a breakaway in the 85th minute, but he was up to the task and made the save on Igor Sergeev's shot.
Canada were back on the counter-attack when Nelson had both Promise David and Tani Oluwaseyi as passing options on either wing. He went with Oluwaseyi, but his shot was blocked for a Canadian corner. Canada led the game in that department with seven corners to Uzbekistan's three.
Jayden Nelson sealed the deal for Canada in the 91st minute when another Canadian counter-attack led to a sequence that ended with Oluwaseyi finding a wide-open Nelson, who deftly placed the ball into the far corner of the net. Could this strike also have sealed Nelson's selection as the roster replacement for the injured Marcelo Flores?
JAYDEN NELSON MAKES IT 2-0 IN STOPPAGE TIME! 🇨🇦#FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/eTULkFHlWO
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) June 2, 2026
Canada came away with a 2-0 win on the back of second-half goals by Jonathan Osorio and Jayden Nelson, both assisted by Tani Oluwaseyi. Overall, the second half was much brighter from Les Rouges, especially after Osorio's opener — his 10th in 90 career caps.
The two goals were the first scored by Canada in open play since the Venezuela win on 18 November 2025. What was additionally encouraging was that with a bit of luck they could have scored more.
While the first-half performances were rather steady, aside from the back line, they were also uneventful. The play of Liam Millar on the left flank and Maxime Crépeau between the sticks excepted, there will be more work to do from the expected starters.
The second half had several encouraging displays from the likes of Nathan Saliba and Mathieu Choinière in midfield, Promise David in attack, and Luc De Fougerolles at the back. These players provided reassurances that the depth in the squad could be relied upon.
Ralph Priso and Jayden Nelson, two players not on the World Cup squad, also had good performances in the second half. Priso had his first match minutes as a left fullback and did not look too out of place, while Nelson played with the fire of a man on a mission, that mission being to claim the vacant spot on the World Cup squad in place of the just-injured Marcelo Flores.
If Jesse Marsch was leaving his decision on a starting goalkeeper to this last match, which it increasingly appears he has, then he may appear to be leaning on the veteran Crépeau over the reigning MLS Goalkeeper of the Year, despite both keepers having only one shot to save apiece. That, and his decision on who will replace Flores in the squad, should be known by the next match.
Canada's final World Cup tune-up match is in Montréal against Ireland on 5 June 2026.
