Canada will be without its captain for two preseason games

(Toronto) Canada will be without star captain Atiba Hutchinson for World Cup preseason games against Qatar and Uruguay later this month.

The 39-year-old Besiktas midfielder, the Canadian team’s all-time leader with 97 caps. is bothered by a bruised bone, but hopes to be ready by the end of October.

Toronto FC defender Doneil Henry (lower body) and Scotland’s St. Johnstone FC midfielder David Wotherspoon (knee) are also injured.

CF Montreal defender Joel Waterman and Blackpool FC striker Theo Corbeanu get their first invites. Young winger Luca Koleosho of Barcelona’s RCD Espanyol is the team’s youngest player at 18. He was selected by the senior team in June, but has yet to see action.

Canada, ranked 43^e in the world, will face Qatar, 48^eSeptember 23, in Vienna, and Uruguay, 13^eon September 27 in Bratislava, Slovakia, during the last FIFA international window before the World Cup.

The Canadian players will play one last preparatory game, against Japan (24^e) on November 17 at Al Maktoum Stadium in Dubai, before the World Cup kicks off on November 20.

Canada will begin its journey in Group F on November 23 against Belgium (2^e) before facing Croatia (15^e), November 27, and Morocco (23^e), 1^er december.

“As this will be our first time away from Concacaf and our first games against non-Concacaf countries since our journey began in 2018, we will learn a lot from these times,” head coach John Herdman said in a statement.

“Our opponents will both be a good test, but for different reasons, while the quality of the Uruguay squad will notably allow us to see for ourselves the level of intensity displayed by a formation of this level. . »

Red Star Belgrade goalkeeper Milan Borjan is the most experienced international in the 27-man squad with 65 caps.

The list also includes Alphonso Davies, Jonathan David, Stephen Eustaquio, Tajon Buchanan and Cyle Larin.

The other goalies are Maxime Crépeau and Dayne St. Clair, two of the 11 MLS players selected.

Forward Liam Millar returns to the roster after missing Canada’s last camp in June with a broken arm.

The Canadian players are 5-3-0 so far this year, including a 2-1 loss in their last outing in Honduras on June 13 after qualifying for the World Cup.

Canada lost 3-1 to Uruguay in their only previous encounter, in February 1986 at the Orange Bowl in Miami in a pre-season game for the 1986 World Cup. The Canadians faced a South American opponent to last seen in October 2014, losing 1-0 to Colombia.