{"id":732551,"date":"2026-06-12T18:55:09","date_gmt":"2026-06-12T18:55:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/732551\/"},"modified":"2026-06-12T18:55:09","modified_gmt":"2026-06-12T18:55:09","slug":"which-soccer-legends-would-cfl-stars-swap-jerseys-with","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/732551\/","title":{"rendered":"Which soccer legends would CFL stars swap jerseys with?"},"content":{"rendered":"

TORONTO \u2014 As Canada prepares to kick off its FIFA World Cup campaign against Bosnia and Herzegovina on Friday afternoon, soccer fever is sweeping across the country.<\/p>\n

From coast to coast, Canadians will be tuning in to watch the national team take on the world\u2019s biggest stage, and it turns out CFL players are no different.<\/p>\n

Earlier this off-season, CFL.ca asked players a simple question: If you could swap jerseys with any soccer player, who would it be? The answers ranged from Canada\u2019s biggest current soccer star to arguably the greatest player in the history of the women\u2019s game.<\/p>\n

For Montreal Alouettes receiver Tyson Philpot<\/a>, there was little hesitation.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor me it\u2019d probably be Alfonso Davies,\u201d said Philpot. \u201cYou know, him being a young guy. I just love what he does on the field now. He\u2019s a crazy athlete. I know he\u2019s dealt with a couple of injuries too recently, which you know I can relate to. I think that would be a dope jersey swap, for sure, if we can make it happen.\u201d<\/p>\n

RELATED
\u00bb The moment that defined Nathan Rourke\u2019s career<\/a>
\u00bb\u00a0Nathan Rourke\u2019s top 7 defensive backs to play against in the CFL<\/a>
\u00bb\u00a0Nathan Rourke headlines TSN\u2019s top 50 players list for 2026<\/a>
\u00bb\u00a0Buy tickets for the 2026 CFL season<\/a>
\u00bb\u00a0Subscribe to the CFL\u2019s newsletter for exclusive offers and league updates<\/a><\/p>\n

Not big bench guys. \ud83d\ude0e<\/p>\n

Tyson Philpot and Isaac Adeyemi-Berglund check out the Canada Soccer bench at last week\u2019s match in Montreal ahead of the World Cup! pic.twitter.com\/Pvskucn8xl<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 CFL (@CFL) June 10, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Davies has become the face of Canadian men\u2019s soccer, starring for Bayern Munich in Germany\u2019s Bundesliga while helping Canada return to the World Cup after a 36-year absence in 2022. He is widely regarded as one of the best left backs in the world and remains one of the country\u2019s most recognizable athletes.<\/p>\n

The admiration goes beyond Davies\u2019 highlight-reel runs down the wing. Both athletes know what it\u2019s like to have their momentum interrupted by injury before working their way back to competition. Davies has battled through injuries during his career, while Philpot overcame setbacks of his own before returning to become one of the CFL\u2019s most explosive receivers.<\/p>\n

That shared resilience makes the jersey swap an especially fitting choice, with both players representing the next generation of Canadian stars in their respective sports.<\/p>\n

BC Lions quarterback Nathan Rourke<\/a> went in a slightly different direction.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think the obvious answer will probably be Lionel Messi,\u201d said Rourke, \u201cbut I think it would be pretty cool to do a jersey swap from the great Christine Sinclair.\u201d<\/p>\n

While the Argentine superstar may be the most recognizable name in world soccer, Rourke instead highlighted the lasting impact of Sinclair, Canada\u2019s all-time soccer icon. The longtime national team captain helped lead Canada to a historic Olympic gold medal in Tokyo and retired as the world\u2019s all-time leading international goal scorer, cementing her place among the greatest players the sport has ever seen.<\/p>\n

And if Canada\u2019s World Cup opener leaves you wanting to watch even more Canadian talent, the CFL has you covered this weekend.<\/p>\n

Philpot and the Montreal Alouettes host the Toronto Argonauts on Friday night at 7:00 p.m. ET, while Rourke and the BC Lions take on the Saskatchewan Roughriders on Saturday at 7:00 p.m. ET, giving fans another opportunity to cheer on two of the country\u2019s top athletes as Week 2 of the CFL season continues.<\/p>\n