Richie Laryea will captain a developmental Canada side against a competitive Guatemala in Los Angeles. With many North America-based and fringe players, Canada may lack cohesion. Betting implication: expect a tight, physical contest — consider Guatemala or a Canada draw in match-result markets, draw-no-bet on Guatemala, and under 2.5 goals in total-goals markets as a cautious play for punters.
Canada Names Developmental Side with Laryea as Captain for Guatemala Friendly
Canada will field a developmental squad against Guatemala on Saturday at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, with Toronto FC fullback Richie Laryea handed the captain’s armband. Coach Jesse Marsch has prioritized players who are out of season and mostly North America-based, creating a blend of experienced campaigners and uncapped prospects ahead of a busy pre-World Cup schedule.
Marsch Frames Match as a Development Opportunity
Marsch described the fixture as a developmental game but stressed a desire to win. He cautioned that the Guatemalan team has brought a strong, combative side that will test Canada’s newcomers and fringe players. The match’s official status — including substitution allowances and Tier 1 designation — was still to be clarified.
Memory of Gold Cup Knockout Adds Edge
Canada and Guatemala recently met in a tense Gold Cup quarterfinal that finished 1-1 before Guatemala prevailed 6-5 on penalties. That encounter saw Canada reduced to 10 men after a first-half red card for Jacob Shaffelburg, who was initially named to the camp but withdrew after surgery for a degenerative groin condition; he was replaced by Toronto FC winger Malik Henry.
Roster Makeup: Veterans, Bubble Players and Young Talent
Marsch split the camp into three groups: players who have locked down World Cup spots, those on the bubble, and young talent gaining international experience. Veterans in camp include Jonathan Osorio (87 caps), Richie Laryea (71 caps), Kamal Miller (50 caps) and Mathieu Choiniere (21 caps). Other capped players present are Joel Waterman (15), Jayden Nelson (12), Zorhan Bassong (7) and Jacen Russell-Rowe (7). Eleven players in the group are still awaiting their first senior cap.
European and Domestic Representation
Matteo de Brienne is the only Europe-based player in the roster, currently out of season with Sweden’s GAIS. The camp also features several Canadian Premier League standouts, including Noah Abatneh, Shola Jimoh and Tiago Coimbra, providing a pathway for domestic-league performers to stake a claim.
Context: Fixtures Ahead of the World Cup
This friendly is Canada’s first match since a 2-0 win over Venezuela on Nov. 18. It’s one of only a handful of tune-ups before the World Cup: two matches in Toronto during the March window, a June 1 game against Uzbekistan in Edmonton, and a final warmup in Montreal on June 5 or 6. Canada opens Group B at the World Cup on June 12 in Toronto against a European qualifier, then travels to Vancouver to face Qatar on June 18 and Switzerland on June 24.
Competitive Outlook
Canada enters the game ranked 27th internationally. Marsch expects Guatemala to deploy many of the players who featured in the Gold Cup, so despite the developmental label the match should be competitive and physically demanding — a valuable assessment opportunity for players pushing for World Cup selection.
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Toronto FC fullback Richie Laryea will captain a developmental Canada side against Guatemala in Saturday’s soccer friendly in Los Angeles.
Sportsnet
