FORM GUIDE: Bim Pepple catches fire as Tajon Buchanan scores banger for Villarreal

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Canada NT

In 18 days, the Canadian men’s national team are back in action for their penultimate set of friendlies before the World Cup. Here's how players are performing at their clubs ahead of next week's call-ups.

In 18 days, the Canadian men’s national team are back in action for their penultimate set of friendlies before the 2026 World Cup.

Taking on Iceland (March 28) and Tunisia (March 31) in Toronto, this will be a huge chance for players to stake their claim for the tournament squad. Both matches will be live on OneSoccer.

But first, they have to get that call-up, which means strong performances at the club level. A few players set themselves apart over the past week.

Here is a look at all the notable performances from this past week:

Aribim Pepple is Canada’s hottest striker

Goals have not come particularly easily for Canadian attackers in 2026, but one player remains the exception to that rule.

With a goal this weekend in a 2-1 win over Doncaster in League One, 23-year-old Plymouth Argyle striker now has eight league goals in the new year. He has 12 in all competitions this season as a whole.

Only a handful of Canadians have even scored more than once since the turn of the year, suggesting that Pepple could be worth bringing into camp in March to see if he can carry this form into a Canadian shirt.

Buchanan scores brilliant goal for Villarreal

With an incredible individual effort on Sunday, Tajon Buchanan opened the scoring for Villarreal against Elche in a 2-1 victory in La Liga action.

Tajon Buchanan scores an absolute rocket for Villarreal 🚀 pic.twitter.com/yOPwLEdkko
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) March 8, 2026

It was his sixth goal of the campaign, by far his most prolific in Europe. With national team camp around the corner, Buchanan looks to be coming in with plenty of confidence as he remains a key piece in Villarreal’s push for a top-four finish in Spain.

In more concerning news, perhaps, Tani Oluwaseyi was an unused sub for Villarreal in the match. The Canadian striker has just seven minutes of action in the Yellow Submarines' past four matches, and no league goals since November.

In other news…

Richie Laryea played an incredible ball through the lines for an assist on Daniel Salloi’s winner in Toronto FC’s 1-0 victory over FC Cincinnati. He and Jonathan Osorio both went the full 90.

LET'S GOOOOOO!!!!! 😤😤 pic.twitter.com/4kSo7gxWGi
— Toronto FC (@TorontoFC) March 9, 2026

Stephen Eustáquio picked up an assist on David Martínez’s winner in LAFC’s 1-0 win over FC Dallas. Mathieu Choinière played the final few minutes of the match.

Max Crépeau was sent off in the 16th minute for handling the ball outside of his area in a 5-0 loss to New York City for Orlando City SC.

Dayne St. Clair made four saves in a 2-1 win for Inter Miami against D.C. United on Saturday. Inter Miami begins their Concacaf Champions Cup run against Nashville SC this week on OneSoccer.

Joel Waterman played the full 90 and picked up a yellow card as the Chicago Fire drew 0-0 with Columbus.

Kamal Miller went the full 90 in a 4-1 loss to the Vancouver Whitecaps on Saturday.

Luc de Fougerolles was removed in the 33rd minute due to an ankle injury in FCV Dender’s 2-2 draw with Charleroi. He is just the latest Canadian men’s national team defender to suffer an injury.

Ralph Priso played another 90 minutes as a central defender as the Whitecaps were victorious 4-1 against the Portland Timbers.

Marcelo Flores was an unused sub in Tigres’ 1-0 win over Monterrey on Saturday. He did, however, start and play 60 minutes in a 3-1 loss to Toluca midweek.

Nathan Saliba played the full 90 as Anderlecht drew 2-2 against Club Brugge.

Ali Ahmed played 82 minutes in a 3-0 loss to Leeds in the FA Cup 5th round.

Jayden Nelson was removed in the 28th minute of Austin FC’s 3-1 loss to Charlotte for tactical reasons after teammate Guilherme Biro was sent off.

Liam Millar started and played 81 minutes in Hull City’s 3-1 loss to Millwall.

Theo Bair made his return from injury, coming on in the final minute of Lausanne’s 3-2 win over Grasshopper.

Jonathan David started, but was subbed out at half-time as Juventus won 4-0 against Pisa.

Cyle Larin started and played 71 minutes in Southampton’s 1-0 win over Fulham.