NYC FC midfielder Kwame Awuah could wind up playing for Canada in the Gold Cup. (Photo courtesy of MLS)

New York City FC midfielder Kwame Awuah and Cosmos center back Dejan Jaković were among 40 players that were on Canada’s provisional roster for this summer’s CONCACAF Gold Cup, it was announced Tuesday.

The 12 participating countries can only select players from their respective 40-man rosters, starting with the 23-player squads that will dress for the group phase of the competition, which starts July 7.

Canada will play their group matches against French Guiana at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, N.J. July 7, vs. Costa Rica in Houston July 11, and against Honduras in Frisco, Texas July 14.

“There is a motivation that Canadian players must have – the pride and the passion – in wearing the Canadian shirt,” said Canada head coach Octavio Zambrano, who directed the MetroStars from 2000-2002. “It is not a shirt that can be given to just anyone, it is something that players need to earn and, once they put it on, they need to feel something different.”

Canada Soccer will select its 23-man squad for the Gold Cup in mid-June after a home international friendly match in Montréal. The team will open camp in Ottawa June 28, one day after the final match of the 2017 Canadian Championship between Toronto FC and Impact Montréal FC at BMO Field.

From the list of 23 players, nations can replace a player in the event of serious injury up until 24 hours before the team’s first match in the group phase. After the group phase, each nation can amend their roster and replace up to six players with six new faces. Throughout the Gold Cup, all replacements must come from the provisional.

Canada provisional roster

GK- Milan Borjan | POL / MKS Korona Kielce
GK- Maxime Crépeau | CAN / Impact Montréal FC
GK- Jayson Leutwiler | ENG / Shrewsbury Town FC
GK- Simon Thomas | NOR / FK Bodø/Glimt

CB- Dejan Jaković | USA / New York Cosmos
CB- Manjrekar James | HUN / Vasas Budapest
CB- Milovan Kapor | Unattached
CB- Wandrille Lefèvre | CAN / Impact Montréal FC
CB- Adam Straith | CAN / FC Edmonton
CB- Steven Vitória | POL / Lechia Gdańsk

FB- Samuel Adekugbe | ENG / Brighton Hove & Albion
FB- Juan Córdova | CHI / CD Huachipato
FB- Marcel de Jong | CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps FC
FB- Andrés Fresenga | URU / Cerro Largo FC
FB- Nik Ledgerwood | CAN / FC Edmonton
FB- Tyler Pasher | USA / Sporting Kansas City

M- Fraser Aird | Unattached
M- Tesho Akindele | USA / FC Dallas
M- Scott Arfield | ENG / Burnley FC
M- Kwame Awuah | USA / New York City FC
M- Patrice Bernier | CAN / Impact Montréal FC
M- Marco Bustos | CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps FC
M- David Choinière | CAN / Impact Montréal FC
M- Alphonso Davies | CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps FC
M- Raheem Edwards | CAN / Toronto FC
M- Kianz Froese | GER / Fortuna Düsseldorf
M- Nicolas Galvis | Unattached
M- David Junior Hoilett | WAL / Cardiff City FC
M- Will Johnson | USA / Orlando City SC
M- Mark-Anthony Kaye | USA / Louisville City FC
M- Jonathan Osorio | CAN / Toronto FC
M- Michael Petrasso | ENG / Queens Park Rangers
M- Samuel Piette | ESP / CD Izarra
M- Tosaint Ricketts | CAN / Toronto FC
M- Russell Teibert | CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps FC

F- Lucas Cavallini | URU / CA Peñarol
F- Marcus Haber | SCO / Dundee FC
F- Anthony Jackson-Hamel | CAN / Impact Montréal
F- Simeon Jackson | ENG / Walsall FC
F- Cyle Larin | USA / Orlando City SC

Front Row Soccer editor Michael Lewis has covered 13 World Cups (eight men, five women), seven Olympics and 25 MLS Cups. He has written about New York City FC, New York Cosmos, the New York Red Bulls and both U.S. national teams for Newsday and has penned a soccer history column for the Guardian.com. Lewis, who has been honored by the Press Club of Long Island and National Soccer Coaches Association of America, is the former editor of BigAppleSoccer.com. He has written seven books about the beautiful game and has published ALIVE AND KICKING The incredible but true story of the Rochester Lancers. It is available at Amazon.com.