Edmonton teen picked to play at FIFA World Cup but not for Canada
An 18-year-old who grew up near Edmonton will be on the pitch competing at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Born in St. Albert, Alta., Rayan Elloumi spent his youth soccer career with Edmonton Juventus SC before going on to play with Edmonton BTB SC as a teenager.
These days, Elloumi plays for the Vancouver Whitecaps. He’s been with the organization for nearly three years but didn’t make his MLS debut until the 2025 season. Now, he’s preparing to play on not just a bigger stage, but the biggest stage in all of soccer.
On Friday, Elloumi, who is of Tunisian descent, got the thrill of a lifetime after learning that he had been selected by Tunisia as part of its 26-man roster to compete at the World Cup.
Oh, the places he's 𝒈𝒐𝒊𝒏𝒈 🌍🏆🇹🇳
Rayan Elloumi is World Cup bound as a member of the 26-man Tunisian roster for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Congratulations Rayan 🌟
📰 | https://t.co/4DQ9H2HNxb#VWFC pic.twitter.com/9CfqXzQN9m
— Vancouver Whitecaps FC (@WhitecapsFC) May 15, 2026
This is the second call-up to Tunisia’s senior roster for Elloumi, who also joined the team for two friendlies in the March international competition window. One of those matches was a scoreless 0-0 draw versus Canada.
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“An unforgettable feeling making my debut and first start for my country,” Elloumi wrote shortly after his first call-up. “Truly a dream come true. Thank you to all the fans for your incredible support.”
Tunisia will play in Group F for the World Cup alongside the Netherlands, Sweden, and Japan. They will kick things off on June 14 against Sweden at Monterrey Stadium in Monterrey, Mexico.
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