Canada continue preparations for the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup with a strong roster as they meet Ivory Coast in their second and final pre-tournament friendly in Toronto on Tuesday.
Having blasted Ukraine 4-2, which saw Les Rouges maintain a commanding 4-0 lead until the final minutes, Canada are in good spirits with the continental championship just around the corner.
While a few individuals are absent from Jesse Marsch’s roster, he has all fit and available players on hand to contribute as they gun for their first Gold Cup title since 2000. They begin the competition on Tuesday, June 17 with their first group-stage match against Honduras, followed by games against Curacao and El Salvador.
Canada have not even reached the final of the tournament since that triumph 25 years ago, managing only one semifinal appearance in that span back in 2021.
Ivory Coast, ranked 41st in the world, have struggled in the wake of their 2024 Africa Cup of Nations title on home soil. Defeats to Sierra Leone and Zambia in AFCON qualifying last fall gave way to a 1-0 loss to lowly New Zealand in a friendly from Toronto last weekend, indicating they have much work to do before more important fixtures arrive.
MORE: A full breakdown of the USMNT roster for the 2025 Gold Cup, lacking many of its first-choice regulars
Canada vs. Ivory Coast starting lineups, team news
Marsch has called in a strong squad for the Gold Cup, and by proxy the pre-tournament friendlies, but he is missing a few key regulars along the back line.
Left out of the squad were Alistair Johnston and Moise Bombito who were both forced out of action due to end-of-season fitness concerns. Bombito had returned from wrist surgery to finish the campaign with his French club Nice, but because they have an early start to the 2025/26 campaign thanks to Champions League qualifying, he was given the summer off.
Also not involved is Alphonso Davies, who tore his ACL back in mid-March and will be out of action for considerable time.
As Canada continue to find an established starter in goal following Milan Borjan‘s phasing out, Marsch started Maxime Crepeau against Ukraine, meaning Dayne St. Clair could get a chance to impress in the battle for the No. 1 shirt.
The head coach rotated the squad for the first friendly, giving rare starts to youngsters Luc de Fougerolles, Niko Sigur, and Promise David. Fulham youngster De Fougerolles in particular was impressive at the back but is rotated out for Joel Waterman. Jonathan David and Tajon Buchanan were impressive on Saturday as well but also find a spot on the bench, with Cyle Larin entering.
Canada starting lineup (4-4-2, right to left): 1. St. Clair (GK) — 3. Adekugbe, 5. Waterman, 13. Cornelius, 22. Laryea — 21. Osorio, 8. Kone, 20. Ahmed, 25. Nelson — 11. Jebbison, 9. Larin.
Full Canada squad
Goalkeepers: Dayne St. Clair, Maxime Crepeau
Defenders: Sam Adekugbe, Zorhan Bassong, Derek Cornelius, Luc de Fougerolles, Jamie Knight-Lebel, Richie Laryea, Joel Waterman
Midfielders: Ali Ahmed, Tajon Buchanan, Mathieu Choiniere, Stephen Eustaquio, Ismael Kone, Nathan Saliba, Niko Sigur, Jacob Shaffelburg
Forwards: Jonathan David, Promise David, Daniel Jebbison, Cyle Larin, Jayden Nelson, Tani Oluwaseyi.
Despite a very talented crop of attacking players, Ivory Coast have struggled to create chances and score goals since their AFCON title a year ago. Atlanta United star Emmanuel Latte Lath is in good club form but failed to inspire against New Zealand.
It was surprising not to see Roma defender Evan Ndicka named to the squad, despite the fact he played every single minute for the Italian side in league action this past season. Aging center-backs Eric Bailly and Willy Boly have also not been called in for some time, while Jean-Michael Seri has also not been involved since he picked up a serious muscle injury back in November.
Despite finishing up an impressive club season with Manchester United, Amad Diallo was forced to withdraw from international duty due to “administrative reasons”, which were not clarified further.
Ivory Coast announced hours before the match that both Sebastien Haller and Yahia Fofana had picked up muscle injuries and would not take part.
Ivory Coast starting lineup (4-1-4-1, right to left): 13. B. Sangare (GK) — 3. Konan, 5. Singo, 7. Kossounou, 17. Akpa — 8. Kessie, 18. I. Sangare — 19. Pepe, 21. Guiagon, 10. Adingra — 20. Guessand.
Full Ivory Coast squad
Goalkeepers: Yahia Fofana, Mohamed Kone, Badra Ali Sangare
Defenders: Clement Akpa, Jean-Philippe Gbamin, Cedric Kipre, Ghislain Konan, Odilon Kossounou, Christopher Operi, Wilfried Singo, Luck Zogbe
Midfielders: Mohamed Diomande, Mory Gbane, Parfait Guiagon, Franck Kessie, Jean Thierry Lazare, Ibrahim Sangare
Forwards: Simon Adingra, Jeremie Boga, Evann Guessand, Sebastian Haller, Emmanuel Latte Lath, Nicolas Pepe.
Canada vs. Ivory Coast score prediction
This match will provide Canada with a stiff test in terms of generating chances against a quality defensive side, but given their performance against Ukraine and recent success, especially on home soil, they should manage to come out on top.
Ivory Coast have managed to score more than one goal in a match just once since last October, coming in a 4-0 home AFCON qualifying win over Chad. It has been a slog for Emerse Fae’s side, and Canada should manage to keep them off the scoresheet after impressing at the back last time out.
Much of this depends, of course, on how much either or both managers decide to rotate their squad in a friendly such as this.
Prediction: Canada 1-0 Ivory Coast
Canada vs. Ivory Coast live stream, TV channel
- Date: Tuesday, June 10, 2025
- Time (ET): 8:30 p.m. ET / 5:30 p.m. PT
- TV channel: OneSoccer
- Streaming: Fubo Canada
This match will be televised in Canada on OneSoccer, which is available for streaming on Fubo Canada.
In addition to their two pre-tournament friendlies, the CONCACAF Gold Cup will also be available in Canada on OneSoccer, who are the home for the national team this summer.
