Continuing what must be a dream season for any young soccer player with the highest aspirations, Vancouver FC’s talented teen pro Taryck ‘TJ’ Tahid has been named to Canada’s roster for the FIFU U17 World Cup.
He will be wearing the Maple Leaf when the tournament kicks off next Friday, Nov. 10 in Indonesia.
“I am so excited and honoured to be representing my home country and my family in this tournament,” said Tahid.
“Playing for Canada in a World Cup is a dream that I’ve been working towards for as long as I can remember and I’m still in awe that it is coming true. I’m looking forward to making the most of this entire experience and to help make history for Canada at this tournament.”
Tahid is a Vancouver FC midfielder, and this year became the the youngest player in Canadian Premier League (CPL) history to sign a standard professional contract. He was 16 years and 16 days old. He was the youngest player to appear in a CPL match when he made his debut as a second half substitute in Vancouver’s inaugural home opener on May 7, and once again made history as the league’s youngest scorer when he netted his first goal on Jun. 2. He made six starts in twenty appearances for Vancouver over the course of his first professional season.
“TJ is a bright, young star who deserves to be showcased on an international stage,” said Rob Friend, president, Vancouver FC. “He has grown in both his physical skills and his mentality towards the game since joining Vancouver FC and I’m excited to see everything he’ll accomplish in his budding career.”
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Tahid, who lives in Maple Ridge, earned his first international call-up in September 2023 when Canada played in a two-match friendly series against Brazil, the defending FIFA U-17 World Cup champions. He started the game and played 62 minutes in Canada’s 3-1 loss. Tahid earned his second cap for Canada as a second half substitute in the second match on Oct. 1.
The FIFA U-17 World Cup Indonesia 2023 is the first tournament of its kind since the global pandemic. Canada will play in Group B and first face Spain on Nov. 10. Canada will also compete against Uzbekistan on Monday, Nov. 13, and against Mali on Thursday, Nov. 16.
The group stage will be completed on Nov. 18, with round of 16 play scheduled for Nov. 20 to Nov. 21. The quarterfinals are set for Nov. 24 and Nov. 25, with the semifinals scheduled for Nov. 28. The final will be played on Dec. 2nd. A match to determine the third place finisher will be contested on Dec. 1.
Canada must finish first or second in Group B or be one of the four best teams among those ranked third to qualify for the round of 16. Canada has yet to make it past the group stage in any FIFA U-17 World Cup.
Throughout the competition, fans will find coverage across digital channels including Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube featuring the hashtag #canm17.
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