Canada vs. Chile: International Friendly Preview
Graphic: Provectus Media (PM)
By Kevin Connolly
TORONTO — The stage is set for Canada's men's national team to get back to business on home soil. Canada's senior squad will take the pitch for the first time since the 2026 FIFA World Cup, co-hosted by Canada, Mexico and the United States.
The first friendly of the current international window sees Les Rouges welcome 49th-ranked Chile to BMO Field in Toronto on Sept. 26 (7 p.m. ET kickoff).
Now well beyond their golden generation, led by Alexis Sánchez, which won back-to-back Copa America titles in 2015 and 2016, the Chileans are looking to test themselves against Concacaf competition. La Roja have not qualified for a World Cup since 2014 and have split their previous four matches of 2026, with victories over Cabo Verde and DR Congo and defeats to New Zealand and France. Team Canada will look to build upon their best-ever World Cup finish by giving the home crowd plenty to celebrate.
Chile is led by interim manager Nicolás Córdova, who is the full-time U20 men's manager, a role he has held since 2023. The 27-man roster named by Córdova consists primarily of players based in South America, complemented by a scattering of European- and North American-based players. The one most likely to catch Canadians' attention is 30-year-old defender Benjamín Kuscevic, currently on loan at MLS side Toronto FC. Kuscevic has made 13 appearances for the 12th-placed Eastern Conference outfit in the 2026 season.
Chile roster
Goalkeepers
Lawrence Vigouroux – Swansea City AFC (GAL)
Brayan Cortés – Argentinos Jrs. (ARG)
Christian Bravo – Huachipato
Defenders
Francisco Salinas – Coquimbo Unido
Felipe Faúndez – O'Higgins
Jonathan Villagra – Colo-Colo
Benjamín Kuscevic – Toronto FC (CAN)
Paulo Díaz – Atlanta United (USA)
Iván Román – Colo-Colo
Marcelo Morales – Universidad de Chile
Diego Ulloa – Colo-Colo
Gabriel Suazo – Sevilla FC (ESP)
Midfielders
César Pérez – Defensa y Justicia (ARG)
Víctor Méndez – Colo-Colo
Rodrigo Echeverría – Club León (MEX)
Matías Sepúlveda – Lanús (ARG)
Felipe Loyola – Pisa (ITA)
Vicente Pizarro – Rosario Central (ARG)
Marcelino Núñez – Ipswich Town (ING)
Leandro Hernández – Colo-Colo
Agustín Arce – Universidad de Chile
Attackers
Maximiliano Gutiérrez – FC Dinamo Moscú (RUS)
Darío Osorio – Crystal Palace (ING)
Nils Reichmuth – FC Thun (SUI)
Lucas Cepeda – Elche CF (ESP)
Gonzalo Tapia – Columbus Crew (USA)
Ben Brereton – Sheffield United (ING)
Invitees
Thomas Coulombe – RCD Espanyol (ESP)
Jetzen López – SC Braga (POR)
Zidane Yáñez – Huntsville City FC (USA)
Canada rallies around Cornelius
On the Canadian side, heartbreaking news out of camp this week as defender Derek Cornelius suffered a serious non-contact injury and has been ruled out. The Marseille player may face an extended layoff as he was taken to hospital by ambulance after the incident. The devastating setback is the latest in a string of high-profile injuries over the last few years for the tight-knit group. That camaraderie and togetherness will once again be relied upon as the squad looks to rally around Cornelius.
See the full CANMNT roster announcement.