Maxime Crépeau named Canada’s starting goalkeeper for World Cup

MONTREAL — Maxime Crépeau watched Canada’s last men’s World Cup from his couch with a cast around his leg, devastated after suffering the fracture mere days before flying to Qatar.

The next time Canada takes the field on soccer’s biggest stage, Crépeau is set to do so as the country’s starting goalkeeper.

Canadian coach Jesse Marsch tabbed Crépeau for the No. 1 job Thursday, settling a years-long battle with Dayne St. Clair eight days before the tournament co-hosts open the World Cup.

“There’s some moments that can push you to difficult places mentally, physically,” Crépeau said. “But what I’m proud of is that I was always able to come back from moments, whether good or bad. I was able to see what’s next, what’s in front of me.”

“We knew since the first moment Jesse arrived, it’s gonna be a hell of a competition, and it’s been down to the wire, guys,” he added of his competition with St. Clair. “We’re very close and we are here for one another in that moment, and I cannot say (enough) amazing words about Dayne and his personality.”

Marsch called the selection — one he had hoped to resolve months ago — the “hardest decision I’ve had to make in my coaching career.”

“Both of these men, Dayne and Max, gave everything from the first day I came here,” said Marsch, hired as head coach in May 2024. “Performed at every moment that they were asked to play for the national team, have committed to each other to support each other and push each other in the entire process, and I trust and believe in both of them 100 per cent.

“I’m very happy for Max, but obviously my heart in the moment also goes with Dayne.”

A longtime member of the men’s national team, Crépeau broke his leg 18 days before Canada’s opening match at the 2022 World Cup. St. Clair filled in as the backup in Qatar behind veteran Milan Borjan.

Crépeau helped lead Canada to a fourth-place finish at the Copa America two years later in Marsch’s first major tournament in charge. But the rangy and athletic St. Clair has started more matches for the national team since.

Ultimately, Crépeau’s maturity and experience won out, Marsch said.

“It’s exactly what we need in the goal, along with all of his goalkeeping qualities,” the coach said. “That security that we get with Max, along with his overall talents and intelligence, really makes us a better team right now.

“We know Dayne will support Max and the team entirely. And no matter what, we know we have an incredible goalkeeper in goal and we’re ready to go.”

St. Clair, who threw his support behind Crépeau in a speech to the team earlier Thursday, has 20 appearances and 10 clean sheets for Canada. The 29-year-old from Pickering, Ont., joined Inter Miami this season after winning MLS goalkeeper of the year with Minnesota United in 2025.

Crépeau has recorded 12 clean sheets in 31 appearances for the senior national team.

The 32-year-old from Candiac, Que., plays for Orlando City in Major League Soccer and came up through CF Montréal’s academy, marking a full-circle moment with Thursday’s announcement taking place metres away from the MLS club’s pitch.

“It’s pretty special how life does these things sometimes,” he said. “The fact that it brought us here to the last sendoff before the World Cup and the decision arrives here, it’s pretty special and I’ll take that with me for a long time.”

The setting also resonated with Marsch, who was CF Montréal’s head coach when Crépeau signed his first professional contract.

“We sat in what is now the coffee room, which was back then the players lounge, and it was Max and his parents, myself and Nick DeSantis, and we signed him at 18 years old to his first contract.

“Here we are in the same building, getting ready to play at the stadium in his hometown.”

Canada plays its final exhibition match before the global showcase on Friday against Ireland at Montreal’s Saputo Stadium.

The tournament co-hosts open the World Cup against Bosnia-Herzegovina on June 12 in Toronto before heading to Vancouver for group-stage matches against Qatar on June 18 and Switzerland on June 24.

NELSON IN?

Marsch hasn’t made a final decision on Canada’s final spot on the 26-man roster after midfielder Marcelo Flores tore his ACL, but he’s close.

The head coach even singled out midfielder Jayden Nelson of Austin FC, unprompted, as a player who has impressed, most recently in Canada’s friendly against Uzbekistan on Monday.

“We are waiting until after this match. We want to just use all the information we have because we still are evaluating all of our players coming back from injury,” he said. “That being said, I think Jayden played very well against Uzbekistan and certainly, I think he’s made a good case for himself.”

CONCERNS FOR BOMBITO?

The final roster decision could be tied to the status of central defender Moïse Bombito, who played just 30 minutes against Uzbekistan and was seen icing his leg. The fleet-footed defender, a key cog in Canada’s back line, was making his first appearance after a 239-day layoff from a fractured left tibia.

“We’re being patient with Moïse and we’re going step by step. He had a bit of a reaction after the game in Uzbekistan, so it’s taking a little bit more time,” Marsch said. “He’s a guy that we’re giving every opportunity to rebound from this and show that he can be ready to play, and we haven’t even started talking about secondary options.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 4, 2026.