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Canada opened a new four-year cycle with a 1-0 win over Chile in an international friendly at BMO Field on Sept. 26, 2026. Jonathan David scored the lone goal in front of 23,310 fans, while Chile finished with two red cards.
Canada opened a new four-year cycle with a 1-0 win over Chile in a chippy international friendly at BMO Field in Toronto on Sept. 26, 2026.
David Leads Canada Past Chile
Jonathan David scored the lone goal in front of 23,310 fans and Dayne St. Clair earned the clean sheet. The match was the first for Canada since losing to Morocco in the Round of 16 at the FIFA World Cup. We wanted to come back here in Toronto after the World Cup to say thank you to the fans, said Canadian midfielder Mathieu Choiniere. I think that is the best way that we did it - by a win.
Canada was missing key players for the first of three friendlies over the next fortnight. Captain Alphonso Davies was away on his honeymoon, defender Derek Cornelius had a hip injury and goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau was out for personal reasons. David wore the captain's armband for 30th-ranked Canada. He was joined up top by Cyle Larin, who scored in Canada's first World Cup game on June 12, a 1-1 draw against Bosnia-Herzegovina.
The match billed as The Homecoming began with a ceremony honouring the World Cup squad, which qualified for the knockout stage for the first time and beat South Africa in the Round of 32. Chile, ranked No. 49, did not qualify for the World Cup. The South American country's last tournament appearance came in 2014. Ralph Priso started the play with a long ball to winger Jacob Shaffelburg, who found Larin with a cross.
Goalkeeper Christian Bravo stopped Larin's initial shot but the rebound floated across the goalmouth and David tapped it in with his left foot in the 12th minute. David raised a No. 13 Cornelius jersey in the air as he returned to the sideline. Cornelius was hurt during a training session earlier in the week. Chilean midfielder Lucas Cepeda was shown a red card in the 35th minute after getting tangled up with Canadian defender Richie Laryea.
Red Cards Shape Canada Homecoming Win
As Cepeda was pulled down, his leg came upward and his boot caught Laryea on the side of the head. The contact drew blood near the eyebrow but Laryea stayed in the game after receiving medical attention. Canada caught a break moments later when Niko Sigur was knocked down and St. Clair was caught out of the area.
Chile's Jonathan Villagra had a chance to hit the ball into the empty net from distance but he put it over the bar. Gabriel Suazo also got a red card after he was shown a second yellow. His forearm caught Sigur in the head as they jumped for a ball. Jovan Ivanisevic made his national men's team debut as a wave of substitutes came on in the 62nd minute.
Junior Hoilett, in his final appearance with the squad, subbed in in the 76th minute. He was honoured for his 11-year run with the national team after the game. I was emotional, man, Hoilett said. I was trying to hold it together when I first stepped on the field.
Canada Builds Toward 2030 World Cup
It was a special moment. A Laryea strike from distance in the 84th minute hit the post. Richard Chukwu made his national men's team debut in the 88th minute. Head coach Jesse Marsch said Canada has set a long-term goal of reaching the top 24 in the world rankings as it looks to qualify for the 2030 World Cup in Portugal, Morocco and Spain.
It felt amazing, Larin said. I think I felt the same type of energy and we started off fast in the game and we were able to get one early.
Next up is an Oct. 3 friendly in Montreal against No. 50 Peru. Canada will visit the 16th-ranked United States on Oct. 6 in St. Paul, Minn.
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CTVToronto:David goal stands up as Canada beats Chile 1-0 in men's soccer friendly 
CTVNews:David goal stands up as Canada beats Chile 1-0 in men's soccer friendlyThis story was compiled and edited by the HeadTopics newsroom and HT AI from the reports above.
Jonathan David Chile Friendly BMO Field Jesse Marsch
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