Justin Ellis scores as young US squad beats Canada 1-0 in friendly
In short
The United States beat Canada 1-0 in an international friendly on Tuesday in St. Paul, Minnesota, with 19-year-old Justin Ellis scoring the only goal in the 29th minute. Brian Schwake kept a clean sheet in his first international start, and the U.S. completed four wins from four friendlies. The U.S. used the window to look at young players, with an average starting age of 23 years, 156 days.
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The United States men’s national soccer team beat Canada 1-0 in an international friendly on Tuesday in St. Paul, Minnesota. Justin Ellis, a 19-year-old forward who plays for Orlando City in Major League Soccer, scored the only goal in the 29th minute. The result gave the U.S. a fourth win in four friendlies during the window. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
The Boston Globe reported that Ellis’s goal came after a give-and-go between Alex Freeman and Malik Tillman created space down the right, and Freeman crossed for Ellis to tap in. It was Ellis’s second goal in three national team appearances, after he also scored the opening goal in a win over Peru on Sept. 26. The Globe added that Ellis had been on the ground after a hard foul about 10 minutes earlier, received treatment and was limping when he returned shortly before scoring. The Guardian described his finish as a first-time strike. [ 1 , 4 ]
Goalkeeper Brian Schwake kept a clean sheet in his first international start for the U.S. The Boston Globe reported that Schwake made three saves and that his biggest moment came in the 63rd minute, when he tipped a close shot by Luc de Fougerolles off the crossbar. The Guardian also credited Schwake with the clean sheet. [ 1 , 4 ]
The U.S. used the window to get a longer look at young players who could play a role in the program’s future, the Associated Press reported. The starting lineup on Tuesday averaged just 21 caps and 23 years, 156 days, according to the AP and the Boston Globe. AP quoted defender Chris Richards saying of the 13 players who earned their first international caps over the past four matches: “They seemed pretty comfortable from the beginning because they all knew each other. It’s been a lot of fun getting to know everyone, and not just on the field.” U.S. coach Mauricio Pochettino made six changes from the starting lineup in Friday’s 3-0 win over Mexico in Glendale, Arizona, the Globe reported, and 17-year-old Cavan Sullivan did not play against Canada. [ 2 , 4 ]
Fox News reported that Christian Pulisic did not play for the U.S. as he continued to rehabilitate a bone bruise and microfracture suffered in a Round of 16 loss to Belgium at the 2026 World Cup. Fox said others stepped up in his absence. The same outlet noted that the match completed the U.S.’s first international stretch since that World Cup loss. [ 3 ]
Canada is looking to build on appearing in back-to-back World Cups, the Boston Globe reported. Earlier in the window, Canada beat Chile 2-1 in Toronto and blanked Peru 2-0 in Montreal, the Globe said. The Guardian reported that the match was chippy and physical, with 43 fouls committed by the two sides and the U.S. leading that count by one. It added that Canada committed nine fouls in the opening 16 minutes and that boos followed fouls, with the loudest jeering for Canada goalkeeper Dayne St Clair, who was returning to the venue for the first time since leaving Minnesota United for Inter Miami as a free agent after seven seasons in Saint Paul. [ 1 , 4 ]
Why it matters
The match closed an international window in which the U.S. tested young players who could play a role in the program’s future, according to the Associated Press. The win gave the U.S. a four-from-four stretch against Chile, Peru, Mexico and Canada, while Canada continued building after appearing in back-to-back World Cups, the Boston Globe reported. Because it was a friendly, the direct competitive stakes remain limited.
Key facts
- The United States defeated Canada 1-0 in an international friendly in St. Paul, Minnesota, on Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2026. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
- Justin Ellis, a 19-year-old forward for Orlando City in MLS, scored the only goal in the 29th minute. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- Ellis’s goal was his second in three national team appearances; he also scored the opening goal in a win over Peru on Sept. 26, the Boston Globe reported. [ 4 ]
- Brian Schwake earned the clean sheet in his first international start and made three saves, including tipping Luc de Fougerolles’s shot off the crossbar in the 63rd minute. [ 1 , 4 ]
- The U.S. starting lineup averaged 21 caps and 23 years, 156 days, and the team completed its fourth win in four friendlies. [ 2 , 4 ]
- U.S. coach Mauricio Pochettino made six changes from the 3-0 win over Mexico, and 17-year-old Cavan Sullivan did not play against Canada. [ 3 , 4 ]
- Christian Pulisic did not play as he continued rehab from a bone bruise and microfracture suffered in the World Cup loss to Belgium, Fox News reported. [ 3 ]
- The Guardian described the match as chippy and physical, with 43 fouls committed. [ 1 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- The United States defeated Canada 1-0 in St. Paul, Minnesota, on Tuesday. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- Justin Ellis scored the U.S. goal. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- Ellis’s goal came in the 29th minute. [ 2 , 4 ]
- Brian Schwake kept a clean sheet. [ 1 , 4 ]
- The U.S. completed four wins in four friendlies. [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
- Mauricio Pochettino is the U.S. coach or manager. [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
Still unclear
- Christian Pulisic did not play and was rehabbing a bone bruise and microfracture from the World Cup loss to Belgium. Only Fox News reports this; other documents do not mention Pulisic or his injury.
- Canada beat Chile 2-1 in Toronto and Peru 2-0 in Montreal earlier in the window. Only the Boston Globe reports these results.
- The U.S. beat Chile, Peru and Mexico by a combined 11-3 in the last 10 days. Only the Boston Globe reports this combined scoreline.
- Attendance and kickoff time for the match. The documents do not state either figure.