Canada men's national team head coach Jesse Marsch has launched 'Camp Poutine', a January training camp for domestic players, as part of a long-term strategy to develop the country's soccer pyramid. The camp, held outside an official FIFA window, allows Marsch to evaluate young talents from the Canadian Premier League (CPL) and MLS academies without disrupting European-based starters ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
Among the invitees is Tiago Coimbra, a 21-year-old striker from the CPL's HFX Wanderers, who earned the league's best Canadian U-21 player award in 2024. Coimbra, who previously met Marsch at a Halifax fundraiser, aims to impress the coach. 'I want to go out there, give my best, get on Jesse's good side,' he said.
Other young prospects include Atlético Ottawa's Noah Abatneh (21) and Inter Toronto's Shola Jimoh (17), alongside experienced players like Jonathan Osorio and Jayden Nelson. The camp culminates in a friendly against Guatemala on 17 January.
Marsch has taken a holistic approach, conducting coaching clinics across Canada and urging the CPL to prioritise youth development. 'I have a responsibility to the nation to try to do the best I can in every way possible to help the sport,' he said. CPL executive vice president Costa Smyrniotis noted that the league's structures now incentivise opportunities for young domestic talent, a system that didn't exist for previous generations.
