World Cup co-hosts Canada continue building towards next summer's tournament as they take on Colombia in an international friendly from Harrison, NJ on Tuesday.
The overall prognosis had been strong under Jesse Marsch, who entered the October international break with Les Rouges on a nine-match unbeaten run. Yet that ended against Australia 1-0 on Friday, as Canada struggled to put the ball in the net despite pummeling the Socceroos throughout.
They can put that adverse result behind them in a hurry with a quality performance against 13th-ranked Colombia, who provide a stiff test with a high-powered roster.
Los Cafeteros finished third in the CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying standings for this cycle, and they thrashed Mexico 4-0 over the weekend. Luis Diaz scored a goal and James Rodriguez assisted two as the South Americans walloped El Tri.
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Canada vs. Colombia lineups: Predicted starting XI, team news
Canada suffered a major blow as rising defensive star Moise Bombito went down with a broken leg just before the international break while on club duty for Nice. Bombito, along with young Luc de Fougerolles, have risen to the level of regular starter, with their growth and development one of the hallmarks of Marsch's tenure thus far.
Bombito will require 4-5 months of recovery similar to that endured by Tajon Buchanan after a similar injury sustained during last summer's Copa America. He joins Alphonso Davies on the long-term shelf as the Bayern Munich man continues working back from an ACL tear.
Marsch said that Davies is unlikely to recover in time for the November international window, but "not out of the question." Alistair Johnston is also not yet back from his hamstring injury and is pushing for a November return.
Maxime Crepeau and Dayne St. Clair continue their battle for the starting goalkeeper spot, with Marsch confirming that St. Clair will get the nod in net here after Crepeau started in the Australia defeat. Canada all-time leading goal-scorer Cyle Larin is no longer a regular international starter, supplanted on the depth chart by upstarts Promise David and Tani Oluwaseyi for the striker spot next to Jonathan David.
Canada predicted starting XI (4-4-2, right to left): St. Clair (GK) — Laryea, Cornelius, de Fugerolles, Sigur — Buchanan, Saliba, Eustaquio, Ahmed — J. David, Oluwseyi
Full Canada squad
Goalkeepers: Maxime Crepeau, James Pantemis, Dayne St. Clair
Defenders: Zorhan Bassong, Derek Cornelius, Luc de Fougerolles, Richie Laryea, Kamal Miller, Joel Waterman
Midfielders: Ali Ahmed, Tajon Buchanan, Mathieu Choiniere, Stephen Eustaquio, Ismael Kone, Jonathan Osorio, Nathan Saliba, Niko Sigur, Jacob Shafelburg
Forwards: Jonathan David, Promise David, Cyle Larin, Liam Millar, Jayden Nelson, Tani Oluwaseyi.
At 34 years old, James Rodriguez continues to trudge on and will be in line for his 120th international cap against Canada.
He is joined by Luis Diaz, who may not sport an imposing international goals tally (19 in 66 matches), but has been in good international form through recent months, scoring five and assisting three more through his past 11 World Cup qualifiers, including goals against Argentina and Brazil.
Regular center-back Yerry Mina has a calf injury forcing him to withdraw from the Colombia squad, replaced by Willer Ditta of Cruz Azul.
Colombia head coach Nestor Lorenzo has left September call-ups Jhon Cordoba, Dayro Moreno, Jhon Arias, Santiago Arias, and Jorge Carrascal off the October roster in favor of uncapped players Kevin Serna and Johan Carbonero plus 21-year-old Girona winger Yaser Asprilla, who has not been called in for a year.
Colombia starting XI (4-2-3-1, right to left): Ospina (GK) — Munoz, Ditta, Lucimi, Angulo — Castano, Lerma — Serna, J. Rodriguez, L. Diaz — Suarez
Full Colombia squad
Goalkeepers: Kevin Mier, Alvaro Montero, David Ospina
Defenders: Alvaro Angulo, Willer Ditta, Jhon Lucumi, Johan Mojica, Yerson Mosquera, Daniel Munoz, Andres Roman, Davinson Sanchez
Midfielders: Yaser Asprilla, Jaminton Campaz, Kevin Castano, Jefferson Lerma, Juan Portillo, Juan Fernando Quintero, Richard Rios, James Rodriguez, Kevin Serna
Forwards: Rafael Santos Borre, Johan Carbonero, Luis Diaz, Cucho Hernandez, Luis Suarez.
Canada vs. Colombia match details
- Date: Tuesday, October 14, 2025
- Kickoff Time: 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT
- Location: Sports Illustrated Stadium (Harrison, NJ)
- Last meeting: Canada 0-1 Colombia (Oct. 14, 2014 | International Friendly)