Canada “stay in the moment” as World Cup fever grows

Playing in entrance of packed crowds every week, Inter Miami CF‘s new goalkeeper feels nearer than ever to the 2026 FIFA World Cup as he pushes for Canada‘s beginning spot.

“Every game I play now is the most-watched game in MLS, whether it’s in the stands or whether it’s on TV,” St. Clair advised reporters as Canada put together for March associates in opposition to Iceland and World Cup-bound Tunisia at Toronto F.C.‘s BMO Field.

“That amount of eyes and pressure is something that I knew was going into [Inter Miami] “would help me prepare for something that’s like the World Cup, where everyone’s watching.”

Just six matches into his tenure with the reigning MLS Cup offered by Audi champions, the 2025 MLS Goalkeeper of the Year and former Minnesota United F.C. standout is jostling with Orlando City‘s Maxime Crepeau for his nation’s beginning function.

That positional battle unfolds as the World Cup comes into view. After Saturday’s match in opposition to Iceland (1 pm ET | TSN, RDS, OneSoccer), simply three extra video games stay earlier than Canada’s World Cup opener in opposition to Italy or Bosnia and Herzegovina on June 12.

“We’re calm, focused, and ready,” head coach Jesse Marsch stated. “We’re taking day by day for what it is value, and the focus and focus to attempt to make it possible for we’re prepared for 2 actually good performances.

“That is the overall objective: to stay in the moment and really continue the process of the team becoming the team we want to be.”

St. Clair is considered one of 18 gamers in Canada’s March squad to have moved golf equipment inside the final yr. And already, it is evident that the refreshed environment are providing a contemporary perspective to Canada’s penultimate pre-World Cup camp.

The current window additionally noticed former Orlando City striker Cyle Larin and Vancouver Whitecaps FC alum Ali Ahmed each arrive in the English Championship.

Since becoming a member of Southampton, Larin has scored 4g/1a in 11 video games. As for Ahmed, he has 4g/3a in 15 video games with Norwich City.

Both Ahmed and Larin are anticipated to begin in opposition to Iceland, whereas Marsch has but to tip his hand on St. Clair or Crépeau between the sticks. Previously, the plan was to provide each goalkeepers a single match.

“I’m not surprised,” St. Clair added about the continued goalkeeper dialogue.

“Of course, I’d love him to select me immediately or yesterday or tomorrow. But at the similar time, I do know my job does not change, as a result of even when he picks me [against Iceland]that does not assure me for June 12 or the remainder of the World Cup.”

Marsch’s preliminary blueprints for March had been centered on getting the roster set for the World Cup. Yet, accidents to key stars have hampered expectations.

The staff doesn’t have captain Alphonso Davies or LAFC midfielder Stephen Eustáquio. Meanwhile, defenders Moïse Bombito and Alistair Johnston are solely in camp as coaching gamers.

Still, selecting up victories in entrance of the dwelling crowd is paramount.

“We’re looking for two wins, and we want to build our chemistry further and to approach these games in the way that we will approach the World Cup,” stated LAFC midfielder Mathieu Choiniere.

“We wish to have excessive depth, and we wish to stick with our identification, counterpressing, and what we have carried out has been nice in the time that we have been collectively.”

As a part of that depth, Canada will hope to seek out success by breaking into the ultimate third and carrying extra of the play. The normal expectation is that Iceland will current a compact, defensive block and dare Canada to interrupt them down, a tactic Marsch’s males have struggled with in the previous.

“We’ve worked a lot on final third and final third entry moments so that we can be a little bit sharper, but I know we have quality,” added Marsch. “We have some weapons, and we’ll be ready to perform and have two really good performances and push to get two really good wins.”