Canada goalkeeper Owen Goodman takes part in the warm up ahead of the World Cup Group B soccer match between Canada and Bosnia in Toronto, Friday, June 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

By The Canadian Press

Goodman debut, Piette homecoming headline Canada’s matchup against Peru in Montreal

Oct 3, 2026 | 12:59 AM

MONTREAL — Up-and-coming goalkeeper Owen Goodman will make his men’s national team debut Saturday as Canada hosts Peru in its second match of the September international break.

The 30th-ranked Canadian men opened a new four-year World Cup cycle last week with Dayne St. Clair in goal for a 1-0 victory over No. 49 Chile in Toronto.

St. Clair will sit on the bench with Goodman starting between the sticks for Saturday afternoon’s friendly at Stade Saputo. World Cup starter Maxime Crépeau is absent from camp for personal reasons.

Goodman, 22, was born in England but spent part of his childhood in Alliston, Ont. Widely seen as Canada’s keeper of the future, he currently plays in the Scottish Premiership for Dundee, on loan from Crystal Palace of England’s Premier League.

After representing both Canada and England at the youth levels, the six-foot-four Goodman earned his first call-up to the Canadian men’s senior team in November 2025. He also made Canada’s World Cup squad as the nation’s third keeper behind Crépeau and St. Clair.

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Canada will also honour longtime central midfielder Samuel Piette against No. 50 Peru. Once a national team mainstay, CF Montréal’s captain has been left off Canada’s roster in recent years under Jesse Marsch.

Piette is set for his 70th appearance for the senior men’s side. The 31-year-old from Le Gardeur, Que., hopes it won’t be his last, saying he has no plans to retire from international soccer.

“He told me that he didn’t want to retire from the national team because until he’s done playing, he doesn’t want to make any sort of announcement,” Marsch said. “I respect that, and I said more than anything, we think that he’s earned the right to be acknowledged for the service that he’s given to the national team and for his family and friends to appreciate everything that he has meant to the Canadian national team.”

Canada vice-captain Stephen Eustaquio said Piette was one of the team’s biggest leaders when he first entered the squad in 2019.

“When I came in the program, he was one of the main leaders of the team,” Eustaquio said after training this week. “He easily paved the way for us midfielders. With a lot of experience that he has and then with a of talent, he helped us a lot. And he deserves all the recognition possible, especially in his city.”

Marsch told reporters Friday that all players were available for Saturday’s match except striker Cyle Larin, who missed training late in the week after tweaking his back in the gym.

Canada has a long list of absentees due to injury, including centre back Derek Cornelius, who dislocated his hip in training last week in Toronto. Fellow defenders Moïse Bombito and Alistair Johnston are also missing, while captain Alphonso Davies is away on a honeymoon.

Canada will face Peru for a fourth time, having won two previous meetings and losing the other. Canada prevailed 1-0 last time out at the 2024 Copa América.

The Canadian men will then wrap up their three-match window against the United States on Tuesday in St. Paul, Minn.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 3, 2026.

Daniel Rainbird, The Canadian Press

by The Canadian Press