With a disappointing Gold Cup showing now behind them, Canada are fully focused on preparing for the 2026 FIFA World Cup as they head overseas to take on Romania in Bucharest on Friday.
Jesse Marsch had vibes around Les Rouges at an all-time heading into this past summer’s CONCACAF tournament, but the team crashed out in the quarterfinals on a penalty-shootout defeat to Guatemala.
They are missing a number of key players due to injury or other circumstances but continue to build talent and depth as they prepare to joint-host next year’s massive FIFA showcase alongside the United States and Mexico.
Romania, ranked 48th in the world, have a strong chance at reaching the 2026 World Cup themselves, given a friendly draw in UEFA qualifying alongside Bosnia & Herzegovina, Austria, Cyprus, and San Marino. Yet at the midway point, they sit third, currently out of the picture and needing to make up ground.
Romania vs. Canada lineups: Predicted starting XI, team news, rosters
Romania remain without experienced Tottenham defender Radu Dragusin as he recovers from an ACL tear, expected back midway through the 2025/26 club season. Striker Daniel Birligea was called into the squad after starring in Europa League qualifying for FCSB, but he was forced to withdraw due to a recent injury.
Now 35 years old and on 77 international caps, former Tottenham defender Vlad Chiriches has been left out of the squad and could be phased out moving forward.
Instead, exciting youngsters Andrei Borza and Stefan Baiaram have both been called up hoping to make their international debuts. Borza is just 19 years old but has established himself as a regular starter at left-back for Romanian club Rapid Bucuresti and could push Deian Sorescu for his spot.
Romania predicted lineup (4-4-2, right to left): Moldovan (GK) — Ratiu, Popescu, Burca, Sorescu — Man, R. Marin, Olaru, Stanciu — Dragus, Tanase
Full Romania roster
Goalkeepers: Horatiu Moldovan, Razvan Sava, Stefan Tarnovanu
Defenders: Nicusor Bancu, Andrei Borza, Andrei Burca, Virgil Ghita, Mihai Popescu, Bogdan Racovitan, Andrei Ratiu, Deian Sorescu
Midfielders: Stefan Baiaram, Alex Dobre, Dennis Man, Marius Marin, Razvan Marin, David Miculescu, Alexandru Mitrita, Darius Olaru, Vladimir Screciu, Nicolae Stanciu, Adrian Sut
Forwards: Denis Dragus, Louis Munteanu, Florin Tanase.
Canada are missing a few of their biggest attacking stars. Alphonso Davies continues to rehab from a torn ACL in the second half of last season, while Cyle Larin withdrew from the squad for a “family matter” that was potentially tied to finalizing his loan move to Feyenoord. Alistair Johnston is in the early stages of a three-month injury layoff after suffering a hamstring issue on club duty with Celtic, while fellow defender Sam Adekugbe will be sidelined for a while after tearing his Achilles.
The exclusions of Jonathan Osorio and Kamal Miller were confusing, but Jesse Marsch explained they were based on their club circumstances with the team playing these friendlies in Europe, and that they are still very much in the picture for the World Cup roster.
Nineteen-year-old defender Luc de Fougerolles, now on loan from Fulham to Belgian club Dender, continues his rise in the Canada national-team picture. His story is inspiration for uncapped full-back Jahkeele Marshall-Rutty, who gets his first international call-up after the 21-year-old established himself as a regular starter for MLS club Charlotte FC and could be an option to replace Johnston.
Canada predicted lineup (4-4-2, right to left): Crepeau (GK) — Marshall-Rutty, De Fougerolles, Cornelius, Laryea — Buchanan, Kone, Eustaquio, Shaffelburg — Oluwaseyi, J. David
Full Canada roster
Goalkeepers: Maxime Crepeau, Jayden Hibbert, Dayne St. Clair
Defenders: Zorhan Bassong, Derek Cornelius, Luc de Fougerolles, Jamie Knight-Lebel, Richie Laryea, Jahkeele Marshall-Rutty, Joel Waterman
Midfielders: Ali Ahmed, Tajon Buchanan, Mathieu Choiniere, Stephen Eustaquio, Junior Hoilett, Ismael Kone, Nathan Saliba, Jacob Shaffelburg, Niko Sigur
Forwards: Theo Blair, Jonathan David, Promise David, Jayden Nelson, Tani Oluwaseyi.
Romania vs. Canada match details
- Date: Friday, September 5, 2025
- Kickoff Time: 8 p.m. local / 2 p.m. ET / 11 a.m. PT
- Location: Arena Nationala (Bucharest, Romania)
- Competition: International friendly
- Referee: Lothar D’hondt (BEL)
