COMMERCE CITY, Colo. — Colorado Rapids defender Moïse Bombito has been called up to represent Canada at the 2023-24 Concacaf Nations League Play-In, Canada Soccer announced today. Canada will play Trinidad & Tobago for one of the final two Concacaf spots at the 2024 Copa América, that is being jointly organized by CONMEBOL and Concacaf. The one-game playoff will take place Saturday, March 23 in Frisco, Texas and serve as a qualifier to the 2024 Copa América this summer.
Bombito, 23, is currently in his second season with the Rapids after being selected third overall by the club in the 2023 MLS SuperDraft from the University of New Hampshire. He has logged 1,021 regular season minutes across 14 appearances in MLS and has been a regular starter since September 2023.
The Montreal native was recently called up by CANMNT in October 2023 for a friendly against Japan. In June of last year, Bombito earned a call-up to the Concacaf Nations League Finals. He played in all four of Canada’s Nations League games, helping them reach the finals, and recorded 247 minutes during the tournament.
The match will be played at Toyota Stadium in Frisco Texas on March 23 at 2 p.m. MT. The Canadian team will gather in Frisco on March 18 in preparation for the one-game play-in.
The winner of the Play-In match will join already qualified Concacaf countries - Jamaica, Mexico, Panama, and the United States – along with the winner of the additional Concacaf Nations League Play-In match played on March 23 between Honduras and Costa Rica, for a total of six Concacaf guest nations in this summer's tournament. Should Canada qualify, they will be placed in Group A alongside Argentina, Chile and Peru. They will also feature in the tournament’s debut match, against the current world champions Argentina.
Canada is looking to qualify for the Copa América for the first time in its history; formally known as South America’s continental football tournament. The Copa América is the oldest still-running continental football competition, as well as the third most watched in the world and determines the champions of South America. Teams hailing from North America and Asia have been extended invitations to participate and/or qualify since the 1990s.
