The Canadian Men’s National Team (CanMNT), ranked 30th in the world, drew 2–2 with 75th-ranked Iceland at Toronto’s BMO Field on Saturday, March 28. Two early goals by Icelandic striker Orri Óskarsson (9th and 21st minutes) were offset by two second-half penalty kicks by Jonathan David (67th and 75th minutes). Canada had heaps of late momentum but were halted in the 80th minute by a red card to Tajon Buchanan.

In addition to playing at home and being 45 spots ahead in the world ranking, the CanMNT had two big reasons to expect a better result: First, Iceland were coming off a 4–0 loss to Mexico in late February. Second, the Canadians are gearing up to host the World Cup, whereas the Icelanders are not even coming to the tournament.

Here are three takeaways.

1. Marsch Must Move on from Miller

The biggest surprise in Jesse Marsch’s starting 4–2–2–2 was Kamal Miller at centre-back. The Canada coach has six centre-backs who have been outperforming Miller over the past year: Moïse Bombito, Derek Cornelius, Alfie Jones, Luc de Fougerolles, Joel Waterman, and Ralph Priso.

Miller gifted Iceland the opening goal by flubbing a back-pass that led to an Óskarsson breakaway. Just twelve minutes later, after failing to anticipate a turnover by Niko Sigur, Miller was a bit slow to react to Canada’s loss of possession and saw Óskarsson send a second goal past a sliding Waterman and a diving Dayne St. Clair.

For the first time under Marsch, the CanMNT conceded two first-half goals. Their defensive depth still has a lot of room for growth. The centre-back pairing of Miller and Waterman was not nearly as reliable as Marsch’s preferred pairing of Cornelius (who replaced Miller in the 75th minute) and Bombito (who is still recovering from surgery).

Priso should have started against Iceland instead of coming on in the 86th minute to get his second Canada cap. The 23-year-old Whitecaps player has been in much better form than Miller in 2025 and 2026 but has much less international experience than the Portland Timbers defender. As Marsch’s centre-back options are currently depleted because of injuries, this two-match window should be treated as a golden opportunity to further integrate Priso into the squad.

2. The Subs Were Sensational

Marsch’s high-flying, nonstop-pressing team have had a habit of playing sizzling-hot football in first halves and then fizzling out late in games. Marsch, in response, has vowed to get more out of his substitutes so that his team continues to dominate in second halves.

Against Iceland, Canada flipped both their good and bad habits: After an uncharacteristically slow start, they picked up the pace when their first three subs — Marcelo Flores, Daniel Jebbison, and Jonathan Osorio — entered in the 63rd minute.

The fleet-footed Flores, debuting for Canada with his hair patriotically dyed red, excited the crowd and put the Icelandic defence on edge with swift runs, tricky dribbling, and crisp passing. He replaced Ali Ahmed on the left wing, but he often cut into the middle and also swapped places with right winger Tajon Buchanan for a spell.

Jebbison enjoyed his best performance ever in a Canada shirt. His excellent footwork drew the foul for the second penalty kick, which tied the game. When play restarted after the converted penalty, a pressing Jebbison blocked an Icelandic defender’s attempted long ball, which sparked another attack in the Canadians’ second-half onslaught.

Osorio, playing at his MLS side’s home stadium, added to the liveliness, fluid ball movement, and total dominance by Canada that characterized this match from the 63rd-minute substitutions to the 80th-minute red card.

3. Reckless Red Cards Have Become a Problem

When Jacob Shaffelburg’s red card was the main reason for Canada’s calamitous exit from the 2025 Gold Cup — and for the team’s trophy drought being extended to beyond a quarter-century — it should have been a wake-up call. Shaffelburg’s late body check against a Guatemalan player, however, started a string of red cards for a team that received very few reds in the John Herdman era. In Canada’s last four matches, Ali Ahmed, Ismaël Koné, and Tajon Buchanan have been sent off.

If Canada were receiving red cards for fouls that impede obvious goal-scoring opportunities, their expulsions might be justifiable, but each red card has been a reckless act near the middle of the field. Aggression is key to success under Marsch, but the players should know when it is smarter to pull out of a challenge.

In a friendly on November 13, Ahmed pursued an aerial ball with a high boot and was surprised when his boot clipped the upper body of an Ecuadoran player who was more than happy to roll around on the turf as though he had been shot. Five days later, Koné similarly lunged for an aerial ball and bowled over an opponent he had not seen until the last fraction of a second.

Against Iceland, Buchanan was Canada’s best offensive weapon until he was forced to leave the field. The determined winger was winning one-on-ones, and even one-on-twos, down the right flank.

While shielding Mikael Ellertsson from a ball that was going out for a Canadian throw-in, Buchanan apparently tried to put his upper arm against Ellertsson’s chest. Instead, he accidentally threw his elbow into the Icelander’s face, bringing Canada’s tally to three silly reds in four matches.

What’s Next?

The CanMNT will face Tunisia, a World Cup–bound team ranked 45th in the world, at BMO Field on Tuesday, March 31.

(Image: CanMNT)