Key Points
- Crystal Palace academy goalkeeper Owen Goodman has been named in Canada’s 26-man squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
- Goodman has been on loan at Barnsley from Crystal Palace and joined Canada’s pre-tournament training camp in Charlotte.
- He had already been involved in earlier Canada camps and windows, including November and March fixtures, before making the final squad.
- Canada confirmed its World Cup squad on 28 May 2026, with Goodman listed as one of three goalkeepers.
- Canada’s World Cup group includes Bosnia and Herzegovina, Qatar and Switzerland.
- Canada’s tournament begins on 12 June 2026, with pre-World Cup matches scheduled against Uzbekistan and the Republic of Ireland.
Crystal Palace (South London News) June 1, 2026 – Crystal Palace academy goalkeeper Owen Goodman has been named in Canada’s squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup after a period of involvement in Jesse Marsch’s pre-tournament preparations, with the club confirming that the 22-year-old has been included in the final 26-man group.
As reported by Crystal Palace, Goodman spent the past week with Canada in Charlotte for a training camp ahead of the tournament, continuing a run of international involvement that began with his first senior call-up in November and extended into Canada’s March window. The club said his selection is another significant step in his development, coming after a season in senior football across League One.
Canada Soccer announced the squad on 28 May 2026 and listed Goodman alongside Maxime Crépeau and Dayne St. Clair as the team’s goalkeepers. The federation said the final selection will represent Canada at FIFA World Cup 2026, which runs from 11 June to 19 July across Canada, Mexico and the United States.
What has Goodman done this season?
Crystal Palace said Goodman began the 2025/26 campaign at Huddersfield Town, where he made 12 appearances and kept four clean sheets before moving to Barnsley on loan in January for the rest of the season. The club added that he became Barnsley’s first-choice goalkeeper, starting 22 of the 25 matches for which he was eligible and recording five clean sheets.
That loan spell followed a promotion-winning campaign with AFC Wimbledon, where Goodman earned League Two Team of the Season honours and the division’s Golden Glove award, according to Crystal Palace. Canada Soccer’s squad list also identifies Goodman as 22 and notes his hometown as Alliston, Ontario.
Why is this call-up notable?
Goodman’s inclusion is notable because he is still awaiting his senior international debut, yet has now progressed from training camps into a final World Cup squad. Crystal Palace described the move as part of his “rapid development”, while Canada Soccer placed him among the three goalkeepers selected for the tournament.
The call-up also reflects Canada’s willingness to keep Goodman in the setup over several months, having used him in previous camps and windows before the final selection. His route into the squad has therefore been gradual rather than sudden, with each stage building towards this tournament call.
What has Jesse Marsch said about the squad?
Canada Soccer quoted head coach Jesse Marsch saying it is “an honour to name our squad for a World Cup on home soil” and that the players “reflect the many communities, cultures, and journeys that make up this country”. Marsch added that the group are “determined, fearless, and proud to wear Canada across their chest” and said the team looks forward to uniting Canadians this summer.
Canada Soccer also said the squad was unveiled in a live primetime special broadcast on TSN, CTV, Crave and RDS, with each player’s name displayed on the CN Tower’s EdgeWalk in Toronto. The federation described the tournament as one that will be played on home soil for Canada, with matches scheduled in Toronto and Vancouver.
Who else is in Canada’s squad?
Canada’s squad includes established names such as Alphonso Davies, Jonathan David, Stephen Eustáquio, Tajon Buchanan, Alistair Johnston and Cyle Larin. Canada Soccer said the team’s three goalkeepers are Maxime Crépeau, Owen Goodman and Dayne St. Clair.
The full group also includes defenders Moïse Bombito, Derek Cornelius, Luc de Fougerolles, Alfie Jones, Richie Laryea, Niko Sigur and Joel Waterman; midfielders Ali Ahmed, Mathieu Choinière, Marcelo Flores, Ismaël Koné, Liam Millar, Jonathan Osorio, Nathan Saliba and Jacob Shaffelburg; and forwards Promise David and Tani Oluwaseyi. Canada Soccer’s list places Goodman among a squad drawn from clubs across Europe and North America.
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What is Canada’s World Cup schedule?
Canada Soccer said the team will first play warm-up matches against Uzbekistan on 1 June in Edmonton and the Republic of Ireland on 5 June in Montréal. Canada then opens its World Cup campaign against Bosnia and Herzegovina on 12 June, before further Group B matches against Qatar and Switzerland.
Crystal Palace also confirmed those fixtures and noted that Goodman is heading into the tournament after a strong run of senior development. The matches will be a further test of Canada’s squad composition before the competition begins in full.
Background of the development
Owen Goodman’s rise has been shaped by a steady sequence of loan moves and international interest. Crystal Palace said he started the season with Huddersfield Town, moved to Barnsley in January, and has already accumulated senior experience in League One while pushing for recognition at international level.
Canada’s interest in Goodman has been building since at least November, when he received his first senior call-up, with further involvement in March and then a training camp in Charlotte before the final squad was announced.
The federation’s decision to name him for the World Cup suggests he has moved from being an emerging option to a player trusted for the tournament squad.
Prediction: How could this affect the audience?
For Crystal Palace supporters, Goodman’s World Cup call-up may raise his profile and underline the club’s academy record in developing international players. For Barnsley fans, it adds recognition to a loan signing who became first choice before the season ended.
For Canada supporters, Goodman’s inclusion offers another goalkeeping option in a squad already featuring two experienced competitors for the position, which may increase interest in how Jesse Marsch manages the role during the tournament. For viewers following the World Cup, his selection adds another storyline to Canada’s home tournament campaign without changing the basic expectation that the team’s established senior players will remain central.
