With less than a week to go until Canada’s World Cup roster is officially released, the 26-man squad is starting to take shape.
The Athletic has learned from multiple well-placed sources that two players thought to be on the bubble of Canada’s roster have been told they will not be part of the World Cup squad.
Theo Bair, a forward who was on Canada’s 2024 Copa America roster, and Kamal Miller, a longstanding centre-back who started all of Canada’s three games at the 2022 World Cup, have been informed they will not be part of Canada’s 2026 World Cup squad.
The official deadline for World Cup squad submissions to FIFA is June 1. In the event of a drastic change to the group travelling to Charlotte, N.C., for Canada’s training camp, including serious injuries, it is possible players will be informed closer to June 1 that they will, in fact, be on the World Cup roster.
Canada’s official World Cup roster unveiling is scheduled for May 29.
Bair is a sizeable centre-forward with AJ Auxerre of France’s Ligue 1, and is currently on loan to Lausanne of the Swiss Super League. Bair had a strong start to his season, scoring six goals in eight matches through October and November. His strong form led to call-ups to the Canadian squad for the September and November international windows. Bair appeared as a substitute in two friendlies.
Theo Bair will miss out on the World Cup this summer (Dan Istitene/Getty Images)
An ankle injury in the second half of his season kept Bair out of the Lausanne squad for six weeks through January to March. Bair never truly recovered his form.
“It felt like an eternity for me,” Bair recently told The Athletic of his injury lay-off.
He has scored one goal — during his first appearance for Canada in a friendly against Barbados in 2020 — for Canada in seven total appearances.
Miller, an experienced centre-back with 53 appearances, first flourished for Canada under former head coach John Herdman. His ability to throw a tackle and defend with physicality made him a mainstay in the Canada squad from 2021 to 2023. Miller was one of six Canadians to start all three games at the 2022 World Cup.
Miller has featured nearly as regularly for Canada since Jesse Marsch began as head coach in May 2024. However with injuries having hit Canada’s back line recently, Miller was given legitimate opportunities. He started three of Canada’s last five games. A poor back pass from Miller led to an early goal from Iceland in one of Canada’s March friendlies. Miller’s lack of pace was exposed. On a Canada team that wants to play with constant speed and utilize a high defensive line, Miller’s error was glaring.
There is plenty that can be gleaned from Bair and Miller being told they will not be going to the World Cup.
Bair could have had a chance to crack the squad because of his profile: he is a strong, hulking forward who can hold up the ball and finish with power. His profile is similar to that of Promise David, who is currently recovering from February hip surgery.
If Bair is not going to the World Cup, is it possible then that David is further along in his recovery than anticipated and could now be more likely for a squad spot? Marsch has made it clear that he has wanted to hold a squad spot for David if he is fit enough to play.
With injuries still lingering over Canada’s back line, Miller’s exclusion from the squad is somewhat surprising. Alfie Jones, the dual national who made his debut for Canada in November, has not played since December because of an ankle injury. How fit he will be for the World Cup is still a question to be answered, though Jones was set to travel to Charlotte to take part in Canada’s training camp.
Miller not being named to the squad could suggest that either Jones, or Moise Bombito, Canada’s start centre-back who has not played since October, are closer to being fit for the World Cup.
Another strong possibility? Other centre-backs remain possibilities to claim one of the final spots at the back of the pitch for Canada.
Bristol City’s Jamie Knight-Lebel has had a solid season on loan with League Two’s Swindon Town. Ralph Priso featured in Canada’s last three matches. Yet he suffered a hamstring injury during Canada’s March 31 friendly against Tunisia. Priso has since recovered and is available for selection with his club side, the Vancouver Whitecaps.
Many of Canada’s Europe-based players will soon travel to Charlotte to begin the team’s training camp in earnest.
