Ex-Vancouver Whitecaps player gets the call to FIFA World Cup
A former Vancouver Whitecaps player will be suiting up for Canada at the upcoming FIFA World Cup.
The injury bug has hit the Canadian men’s national team in a big way just days before they open up their World Cup schedule. The squad has already lost midfielder Marcelo Flores, and both Moïse Bombito and Alphonso Davies are major question marks for Canada.
With Flores confirmed to be missing the tournament, Canada manager Jesse Marsch has decided on his replacement. It will be 23-year-old Jayden Nelson who will be taking Flores’ place in the World Cup.
This will be his first World Cup.
Jayden Nelson is going to the World Cup! 🍁
Austin FC’s Jayden Nelson has been selected to replace Tigres UANL's Marcelo Flores on #CANMNT's roster for the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2026™. pic.twitter.com/FpESD7It29
— CANMNT (@CANMNT_Official) June 9, 2026
There has been no word on any potential replacements for either Bombito or Davies.
Nelson has spent the majority of his professional career playing in the MLS. He initially started out with his hometown squad, Toronto FC, where he spent six years with the franchise before being transferred to Norwegian club Rosenborg in 2023.
The Ontario native then returned to the MLS in 2025, inking a deal with the Whitecaps, before eventually being moved to Austin FC this past December.
Nelson has made 14 appearances with the Canadian men’s national team dating back to 2020, where he has a total of three goals. The latest of those goals came during last week’s World Cup tune-up game against Uzbekistan in Edmonton.
The former Whitecap found a lane to help double Canada’s lead in injury time.
GOAL ⚽️⚽️
JAYDEN NELSON DOUBLES CANADA'S LEAD 😎
🔴 Watch #CanMNT on OneSoccer pic.twitter.com/taEYYQ8bdE
— OneSoccer (@onesoccer) June 2, 2026
Canadian soccer fans will be hoping to see more of that from Nelson when the country opens up its FIFA World Cup schedule on Friday in Toronto against Bosnia and Herzegovina.