After a harrowing qualification journey and a surprise coaching appointment over an eventful few months to begin 2024, Canada have reached the 2024 Copa America and are ready to do battle with the best the Americas have to offer.

Set to begin the competition with the Copa America tournament opener against Lionel Messi and defending champions Argentina, Canada have their work cut out for them heading into their biggest test of the World Cup cycle so far.

Canada tabbed American manager Jesse Marsch as the nation’s new head coach just weeks before the start of the tournament, a spicy and risky endeavor to prepare his trademark high-pressing system with so little time before the beginning of the major international competition.

The Sporting News takes you through the Canada roster for the 2024 Copa America, with Jesse Marsch making a few surprising calls ahead of their opening match against…gulp…defending World Cup and Copa America champions Argentina.

Jesse Marsch has named his final 26-man roster for the 2024 Copa America, announced on June 15, the final day to submit squads to CONMEBOL for the tournament.

Copa America rosters have been expanded to 26 players from the initial 23, meaning Marsch only needed to cut one player from the 27-player camp convened for pre-tournament friendlies against France and Netherlands in Europe.

However, instead of taking the easy route, Marsch decided to make a few surprise changes to the lineup. He has called in Ali Ahmed and Jacen Russell-Rowe who were not part of the European friendly camp, while dropping young up-and-coming star Ike Ugbo, which was a stunner.