With the start of the 2026 FIFA World Cup getting closer, it appears Canada will have to deal with another injury.
Marcelo Flores, who was named to Canada’s official FIFA World Cup roster on Friday, appeared to suffer a non-contact injury during Saturday’s Concacaf Champions Cup final while playing for his club team, Tigres UANL of Mexico’s Liga MX.
The injury occurred when Flores was attempting to elude an opposing defender when he suddenly fell to the pitch in pain, grabbing his knee.
Marcelo Flores just went down during the Concacaf Champions Cup final, after grabbing his right leg. Never good when it's that kind of non-contact fall. #CanMNT@TSN_Sports @tsnsoccer https://t.co/fptOlOKhId
— Matthew Scianitti (@TSNScianitti) May 31, 2026
The 22-year-old attacking midfielder/winger was born in Canada, but initially played for Mexico before joining Canada’s national team earlier this year.
Flores has four goals over 27 appearances in Liga MX this season, also playing two games for Canada in 2026.
TSN’s Matthew Scianitti notes that if Flores needs to be replaced, Jayden Nelson, Daniel Jebbison and Ralph Priso could all be candidates to fill the spot.
If Flores is too injured to participate in the World Cup, Jayden Nelson and Daniel Jebbison come back into focus as attacking left sided pieces. Or Marsch may lean toward Ralph Priso who was practising at left back during camp scrimmages @TSNSoccer @TSN_Sports
— Matthew Scianitti (@TSNScianitti) May 31, 2026
Jesse Marsch’s side has dealt with a slew of significant injuries leading up to the FIFA World Cup, namely star Alphonso Davies (hamstring), whose status for Canada’s opener against Bosnia and Herzegovina on June 12 is still up in the air.
Canada will play friendlies against Uzbekistan on Monday and Ireland on Friday, their last two games before the World Cup.
