Canada coach Jesse Marsh has called up Tigres striker Marcelo Flores and Middlesbrough center back Alfie Jones to camp for the November international match.
Born in Georgetown, Ont., to a Canadian mother and Mexican father, Flores, 22, has already represented Mexico at the highest level. The winger is eligible for a one-time switch to FIFA under current rules introduced in 2021, which allow players with up to three international caps before turning 21 to change their allegiance.
Canada Soccer lists Flores as a training player for the November camp, meaning that while he won't play, he will get a taste of life in Canada.
Jones, 28, an English-born center back with Canadian ties through his grandparents, is in the process of becoming a Canadian citizen, according to Canada Soccer.
The 28th-ranked Canadians will close out their 2025 schedule against No. 23 Ecuador on Nov. 13 at BMO Field in Toronto and No. 50 Venezuela on Nov. 18 at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Flores has been on Canada's radar for some time.
Former coach John Herdman tried to bring Flores, then a 17-year-old Mexico international, to a Canadian camp in Florida in January 2021 but was frustrated by pandemic restrictions. Still holding out hope, he included Flores in his provisional 60-man roster for the 2021 Gold Cup, although that didn't pan out.
But Flores chose Mexico.
“Despite the ability to represent multiple countries, I have always been part of the Mexico national team system,” Flores said in a social media post in May 2022. “This is where I feel most comfortable.”
“Today I speak from the heart and feel the need to convey what I have long known to be true and what I believe is important that you heard directly from me,” he added. “I will represent Mexico wholeheartedly for the rest of my professional life.”
His statement prompted a reaction on the official Twitter of the Mexican team (now X).
“And Mexico will always welcome you. We are happy to continue this journey with you, Marcelo,” the message said.
The five-foot-six, 132-pound forward made his senior Mexico debut at age 18 against Chile in December 2021 and now has three caps.
Young Flores spent time in England with Ipswich Town before joining Arsenal's academy in February 2019, signing his first professional contract in October 2020. Flores rose through the Gunners' youth ranks and was named on the bench for Arsenal's Premier League match against Crystal Palace in April 2022.
In the 2022/23 season, he played 15 games on loan for Real Oviedo in the Spanish second division, and in September 2023 he left Arsenal to join Mexican side Tigres.
Tigres currently sits fourth in Mexico's MX Apertura League with a 9-16 record. Flores scored one goal in 149 minutes played.
In his 2022 social media post, Flores also spoke warmly of Canada.
“I was born and raised in Canada,” he wrote. “All my childhood memories are full of happy moments with the ball at my feet. My mother is Canadian. She taught us to love Canadian culture. Canada is where I fell in love with football. I will always be connected to this beautiful country. Thank you, Canada.”
Flores' sisters Silvana and Tatiana represented Mexico at the FIFA U-17 World Cup.
Jones joined Middlesbrough in July on a four-year deal from Hull City, home of Canadian international Liam Millar. Middlesbrough are currently second in the English Championship Second Division.
Jones was born in Bristol and graduated from Southampton Academy. The reliable centre-back had several loan spells at Scottish side St Mirren and English side Gillingham before joining Hull in the summer of 2020.
March remains without several key players, including Bayern Munich captain Alphonso Davies (knee), OGC Nice centre-back Moise Bombito (broken leg), Celtic right-back Alistair Johnstone (hamstring) and Vancouver Whitecaps defender Sam Adekugbe (Achilles).
Winger Jakob Schaffelburg and defender Luc de Fougerolles are not included in the November squad.
Canada last faced Venezuela in the quarterfinals of the 2024 Copa America, when Canada won a shootout after a 1-1 draw in regulation time. The two previous meetings ended in a draw in Venezuela – 1:1 in May 2010 in Merida and 2:2 in June 2007 in Maracaibo.
Venezuela failed to qualify for the following year's World Cup, finishing seventh in South American qualifying with a 4-8-6 record.
Canada's only previous meeting with Ecuador, also at BMO Field, ended in a 2-2 draw in June 2011 when substitute Tosaint Ricketts scored the tying goal for Canada in stoppage time.
In 2025, the Canadian men play in a 6-2-4 formation, with two of those draws ending in penalty shootout defeats (against Ivory Coast and Guatemala).
Canada failed to score in the October window, playing No. 13 Colombia to a scoreless draw in Harrison, New Jersey, following a 1-0 loss to No. 25 Australia in Montreal.
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Canada
Goalkeepers: Maxime Crepeau, Portland Timbers (MLS); Owen Goodman, Huddersfield Town (England, on loan from Crystal Palace); Dane St. Clair, Minnesota United (MLS):.
Defenders: Zorhan Bassong, Sporting Kansas City (MLS): Derek Cornelius, Glasgow Rangers (Scotland, on loan from Olympique Marseille), Alfie Jones, Middlesbrough (England); Richie Larya, Toronto (MLS): Kamal Miller, Portland Timbers (MLS): Niko Sigur, Hadjuk Split (Croatia); Joel Waterman of Chicago Fire (MLS):
Midfielders: Ali Ahmed, Vancouver Whitecaps (MLS): Tajon Buchanan, Villarreal (Spain); Mathieu Choiniere, LAFC (MLS, on loan from Grasshopper Zurich); Steven Eustaquio, Porto (Portugal); Junior Hoilett, Hibernian (Scotland); Ismael Kone, American Sassuolo (Italy, on loan from Olympique Marseille); Jaden Nelson, Vancouver Whitecaps (MLS): Jonathan Osorio, Toronto (MLS): Nathan Saliba, Anderlecht (Belgium).
Forwards: Theo Bair, Lausanne-Sport (Switzerland, on loan from Auxerre); Jonathan David, Juventus (Italy); Promise David, Royal Union Saint-Gilloise (Belgium), Kyle Larin, Feyenoord (Netherlands, on loan from Mallorca); Tani Oluwaseyi, Villarreal (Spain).
Player in training: Marcelo Flores, Tigres UANL (Mexico).
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This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 6, 2025.
