Maxime Crépeau is the man Canada have trusted with the gloves at a home World Cup, and he started the 2026 opener as Jesse Marsch’s number one. A Québec-born goalkeeper with a decade of MLS behind him and an MLS Cup winner’s medal to his name, Crépeau brings experience and a calm presence to the heart of Canada’s defence. See where he fits in our Canada World Cup 2026 profile.
From Montréal to the MLS Cup
Crépeau came through at CF Montréal, his hometown club, but it was a move west to the Vancouver Whitecaps that made him a starter. He then joined LAFC, where he won the 2022 MLS Cup, although a broken leg suffered in the final cut the celebration short. He fought back from that injury and has since featured for the Portland Timbers and Orlando City. The table below covers his main club spells in our database.
| Club | Starts | Saves | Clean sheets | Goals conceded |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vancouver Whitecaps | 56 | 220 | 12 | 88 |
| LAFC | 48 | 110 | 14 | 51 |
| Portland Timbers | 35 | 103 | 4 | 60 |
| Orlando City | 14 | 62 | 0 | 38 |
What the numbers say
Crépeau’s record is that of a busy, dependable MLS goalkeeper. He made 220 saves and kept 12 clean sheets across his Vancouver years, then added 14 shutouts in his title-winning spell at LAFC. He is a confident shot-stopper inside and outside his box and comfortable acting as a sweeper behind a high line, sweeping up balls played in behind. That blend of reliability and composure on the ball is exactly what Canada want from the back.
The Canada number one question
Goalkeeper was one of the few genuine selection debates Marsch faced heading into the tournament, with Dayne St Clair of Minnesota United and the younger Owen Goodman both in the squad. Marsch went with Crépeau’s experience for the opener, and his decision making and organisation of the back four are a big part of why. For the full picture, see our Canada men’s national soccer team players guide.
Canada 1-1 Bosnia: how Crépeau fared
Crépeau got the start as Canada opened with a 1-1 draw against Bosnia and Herzegovina at BMO Field. He was beaten once, as Bosnia took a first-half lead, but he made two saves and swept up with a couple of clearances of his own to keep Canada within reach before Cyle Larin rescued a point. Attention now turns to the second group game, where a win would transform Canada’s hopes — see our Canada vs Qatar prediction and the wider World Cup 2026 hub, with more on the squad at Canada Soccer.
Shot-stopper and sweeper: the keeper numbers
Crépeau’s MLS record is built on volume and reliability. At the Vancouver Whitecaps he made 220 saves and kept 12 clean sheets, including 123 diving stops and 137 saves from inside the box — the busy workload of a keeper carrying a team. His handling of crosses stood out too, with 49 successful high catches to go with his shot-stopping.
His title-winning LAFC spell showed the same dependability: 110 saves and 14 clean sheets across his appearances. Crépeau is comfortable off his line as well, completing 21 sweeper actions for LAFC and 14 for Vancouver, the kind of proactive goalkeeping a possession-minded Canada side values. He is no penalty specialist on these numbers — one save from 11 spot-kicks faced at Vancouver — but the all-round profile is a proven MLS number one.
Maxime Crepeau started in goal for Canada in their World Cup 2026 opener against Bosnia and Herzegovina, getting the nod from head coach Jesse Marsch ahead of Dayne St Clair and Owen Goodman.
Crepeau came through CF Montreal, broke through at the Vancouver Whitecaps, won the 2022 MLS Cup with LAFC, and has since played for the Portland Timbers and Orlando City in MLS.
Yes. Crepeau won the 2022 MLS Cup with LAFC, although he suffered a broken leg in the final itself, an injury he fought back from to reclaim his place.
Crepeau made a couple of saves and was beaten only once as Canada drew 1-1 with Bosnia and Herzegovina at BMO Field, Cyle Larin rescuing a point for the hosts.
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