VANCOUVER Whitecaps FC forwards Ali Ahmed and Jayden Nelson have been named to Canada’s men’s national team squad for a pair of international friendlies in the upcoming September FIFA window.
Canada will first face Romania (FIFA rank #48) on Friday, September 5 at Arena Națională in Bucharest (11 a.m. PT kickoff), before traveling to Swansea to meet Wales (FIFA rank #31) on Tuesday, September 9 at Swansea.com Stadium (11:45 a.m. PT kickoff).
The match against Romania will mark Canada’s first-ever meeting with the European side, while the clash with Wales will be the fourth all-time encounter between the nations. Both fixtures are part of Canada’s continuing preparations for FIFA World Cup 26™.
Ahmed, who debuted at the 2023 Concacaf Gold Cup, has already earned 17 international caps, while Nelson has made eight appearances for the senior team. The Whitecaps teammates were also part of Canada’s squads at the inaugural Canadian Shield tournament and the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup earlier this summer.
“The Gold Cup did not go the way we planned, and the group is eager to get back to work again. Romania and Wales are both formidable opponents, and playing away from home always presents a challenging opportunity.
“These are the kinds of games that will show us where we stand and where we still need to improve with less than a year until the World Cup,” said Jesse Marsch, Head Coach of Canada’s Men’s National Team.
