Canada forward Jayden Nelson (29) strikes the ball during an international friendly soccer match against Ireland in Montreal, Friday, June 5, 2026. (AP Photo\/Gary McCullough)<\/p>\n
Brampton\u2019s Jayden Nelson enjoyed a full circle moment Tuesday as his latest soccer achievement took him back to a venue he knows well.<\/p>\n
The 23-year-old winger from Brampton, Ont., was named to Canada\u2019s roster for the FIFA World Cup, an accomplishment that seemed almost unimaginable when he joined Toronto FC\u2019s academy nearly a decade earlier.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m a guy with big dreams,\u201d Nelson said. \u201cAnd I tell kids that look up to me or whatnot to dream big \u2026 I\u2019m here now and I\u2019m grateful.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Canadian team practised for over an hour Tuesday at the TFC training grounds in preparation for Friday\u2019s tournament opener against Bosnia-Herzegovina at Toronto Stadium.<\/p>\n
Nelson will replace injured midfielder Marcelo Flores on the national men\u2019s team roster.<\/p>\n
Flores was ruled out for the tournament after suffering a serious knee injury on May 30. Nelson was one of three cuts who remained with the Canadian men\u2019s national team after the initial 26-man roster was announced.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m just excited to start and to show the world what I can do,\u201d Nelson said.<\/p>\n
Nelson has two goals over 10 Major League Soccer games with Austin FC this season.<\/p>\n
He has scored three times in 14 appearances for Canada\u2019s senior team, including a stoppage-time goal in a 2-0 friendly win over Uzbekistan last week in Edmonton.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s been really sharp, he deserves it,\u201d said Canadian winger Liam Millar. \u201d He\u2019s been really good in training, really good in the games. He\u2019s really aggressive one (on one). We need that.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe need players who are willing to take risks and willing to do whatever it takes for us to get a goal.\u201d<\/p>\n
Nelson changed teams ahead of the MLS season in a bid to make Canada\u2019s World Cup squad. He spent last season with the Vancouver Whitecaps, registering two goals and six assists over 23 regular-season appearances.<\/p>\n
He struggled to get starts as players returned from injury later in the campaign. The Whitecaps dealt him to Austin FC in December, hoping to find him a home where he could play more minutes and make his World Cup case.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think I\u2019m a creative player,\u201d Nelson said. \u201cI\u2019m able to create chances and I think in a World Cup you need that.\u201d<\/p>\n
After coming up through the TFC academy, he represented Canada at the FIFA U-17 World Cup in 2019 before making his Major League Soccer debut with Toronto in 2020. He spent parts of three seasons with TFC.<\/p>\n
\u201cEven when we\u2019re doing meetings in the theatre room (here), it\u2019s like, \u2018I spent so many hours in there already.’\u201d he said with a smile. \u201cSo it\u2019s just crazy to to know that we\u2019re playing games in our backyard.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s just going to give us an extra push with our fans and family here. It\u2019s amazing, truly.\u201d<\/p>\n
Nelson moved to Norwegian side Rosenborg in January 2023. The Whitecaps then picked the young Canadian up from Rosenborg in January 2025.<\/p>\n
Flores, a 22-year-old winger from Georgetown, Ont., underwent surgery last Friday after rupturing the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee while playing in the CONCACAF Champions Cup with Mexican club Tigres UNAL.<\/p>\n