Canada vs Peru – News and Probable Lineups

In a repeat of their encounter during the 2024 Copa America group phase, Canadá will host Peru at Saputo Stadium in Montreal for a friendly this Saturday.

The Canucks kicked off this international period with a narrow victory over Chile, winning 1-0 last week, while Peru managed a 1-1 draw against México on Tuesday.

Match overview

Canadá had a strong opening to their last match, maintaining composure and dominating much of the game against Chile, taking the lead just 12 minutes into the fixture.

Under the guidance of Jesse Marsch, the squad held 65% possession and appeared defensively sound, achieving their second shutout in their last three international matches.

This weekend, they aim to keep their unbeaten streak in friendlies alive this year, targeting a fourth victory in 2026.

In matches played at home this year, Les Rouges have only faced one defeat, which was a 1-0 loss to Suíça during the group stages of last summer’s World Cup.

Defensively, they have been exceptionally resilient on their turf, conceding one goal or fewer in each of those games this year, resulting in five clean sheets.

Canadá is currently unbeaten in their last four matches against South American teams and has avoided defeat in their previous five games against that region in regulation time.

Peru appeared significantly more effective during their friendly against Mexico on Tuesday, showcasing a sharper and more organized performance.

This improvement will please head coach Mano Menezes, as his team ended a two-match losing streak in that match, conceding only once, which is six fewer than the total they had allowed in their previous two friendlies.

On Saturday, they will strive to secure a win against a CONCACAF opponent for just the second time in their last six encounters with teams from that region, having previously defeated Haiti in a friendly earlier this year, 2-1.

Peru has been unable to clinch victory in their last two international matches despite scoring first, settling for draws in both cases this year.

They will be looking to snap a three-match winless streak this Saturday in North America, having lost in two of those instances.

This will mark their second-ever visit to Canadá, with Los Incas having won that earlier meeting in Toronto 2-0 back in 2010.

Team News

The Canadian squad is missing several key players for this window, including their captain Alphonso Davies, who is currently on an extended honeymoon.

Additionally, Ismael Kone is sidelined due to a tibia fracture, while Jeevan Badwal is in recovery from a hamstring strain and Derek Cornelius is dealing with a dislocated hip.

Jonathan David scored his record 43rd goal for the national side last weekend, while Richie Laryea could tie for seventh in all-time caps on Saturday.

For Peru, Fabio Gruber is unavailable due to a knee injury, Andre Carrillo is facing a muscle issue, and Kenji Cabrera is recuperating from foot surgery.

Against México, four new players were featured in the starting XI compared to those who began their 4-1 friendly loss to the USA, including Erick Noriega, Marco Huaman, Oslimg Mora, and Adrian Ugarizza.

Jairo Velez netted their only goal on Tuesday, with his strike occurring just minutes before the half-hour mark, marking his fifth goal for the national team.

Canadá probable starting XI:

St. Clair; Sigur, Ivanisevic, De Fougerolles, Laryea; Buchanan, Eustaquio, Saliba, Millar; J. David, Oluwaseyi

Peru probable starting XI:

Gallese; Sonne, Araujo, Noriega, Lopez; Cartagena, Concha; Margallanes, Valera, Soyer; Lapadula

Without Davies, the Canadians may not exhibit as much creativity, yet in front of their home supporters, they are expected to manage a Peruvian side that currently lacks balance and does not pose a significant threat in attack.