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Vancouver Sun
3 days ago
- Sport
- Vancouver Sun
Canada 6, Honduras 0: Hometown boy kick-starts Gold Cup demolition at B.C. Place
The last time he was in B.C. Place , Niko Sigur was a wide-eyed ball boy, watching Jonathan David and the Canadian men's national team thump French Guiana 4-1 in Nations League qualifying. Tuesday night, the Burnaby native was on the receiving end of a give and go with the star Canadian striker, scoring his first goal for the Reds in a 6-0 domination of Honduras. It was Canada's opening match in the Gold Cup tournament, which will continue for them next week in Houston. It was the sixth cap for the 21-year-old, who had dozens of friends and family who were part of the 24,286 in the stands at B.C. Place . He'd said Friday he wasn't just here to soak up the experience. He wanted to contribute. GOAL 🇨🇦 NIKO SIGUR SCORES HIS FIRST FOR THE #CANMNT 😎 Canada go up 1-0 over Honduras with a smooth give-and-go, finished perfectly 💪 🔴 Watch Gold Cup on OneSoccer & TSN When he was that ballboy watching play in 2019, he wasn't just soaking up the experience. He was judging, assessing, comparing, and pondering if he had the technical ability to play at that level on this day. 'I always knew in the back of my mind that I could play there one day, and here I am,' said the utility back, who held down the right side of Canada's back line on Tuesday. 'I'm not really happy just being here and being a part of it. I want to contribute, and I know I can contribute. It's nice to be here, but I also want to make an impact and help the team.' For Sigur, it's been a long and winding road to the national team. From the Whitecaps academy, to York University, to a stint with the League One Vaughn Azzuri in Ontario, he moved to Slovenia, playing for Radomlje's youth team, eventually transferring to the academy of Croatia's Hajduk Split in 2022. By 2023, he'd played his way onto the first team. A year later, the Croatian-Canadian dual citizen switched his national team allegiance to Canada. And Tuesday, a nation applauded him. GOAL 🇨🇦🇨🇦 It's TANI TIME 😎 #CanMNT are up 2-0 over Honduras 🇭🇳 at the stroke of half-time as Tani Oluwaseyi finds a near-impossible angle and smacks it home 🚀 🔴 Watch Gold Cup on OneSoccer & TSN David's flick of Sigur's pass split two defenders, and Sigur took two calm touches, the second one a slicing shot past Honduran keeper Edrick Menjívar into the near side corner 27 minutes into the game. Tani Oluwaseyi made it 2-0 in first-half injury time, turning and roofing a ball from a sharp angle 10 yards out. He had a hand in Canada's third goal, getting a slight touch on a Richie Laryea cross, shifting its trajectory to a wide-open Tajon Buchanan at the back post, and he, too, put it in the top netting to make it 3-0 in the 48th minute. GOAL 🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦 TAJON MAKES IT 3️⃣ It's 3-0 for the #CanMNT vs. Honduras as Tajon Buchanan finishes off pass across goal with his first touch 💪 🔴 Watch Gold Cup on OneSoccer & TSN Honduras had only one shot in the first half; a weak, rolling effort from long distance that Dayne St. Clair easily scooped up. St. Clair stopped a semi breakaway in the 50th minute, then made another post-blank stop on the ensuing corner to keep Honduras off the scoresheet. They finished with five shots — three on target — but the game was thoroughly controlled and measured by the Canadians. They held 57 per cent of the ball and outshot the visitors, putting 18 on frame — eight of those on target. GOAL 🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦 #CanMNT are cruising to victory, now up 4-0 over Honduras 🇭🇳 as Tajon Buchanan notches a 2nd from a corner kick 🎯 🔴 Watch Gold Cup on OneSoccer & TSN Promise David scored his second goal in as many games as he finds his feet with his new national team , collecting a tough leading pass from Ali Ahmed before chopping it back across Menjívar into the back of the net. Anderlecht-bound Nathan Saliba, late of Montreal FC , completed the destruction with his 90th-minute golazo, a curling, left-footed strike from 20 yards out that Menjívar had no chance at. Canada has a few more training days here before heading South for their next games. They play Curaçao on Saturday at Shell Energy Stadium in Houston, then face El Salvador on Tuesday — also in Houston. GOAL 🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦 PROMISE DAVID MAKES IT 5 🔥 Look at the footwork on this effort as the #CanMNT go up 5-0 over Honduras 🇭🇳 amid chants of "We want six!" 🔴 Watch Gold Cup on OneSoccer & TSN
Calgary Herald
3 days ago
- Sport
- Calgary Herald
Canada's hometown boy kick-starts Gold Cup in 6-0 demolition of Honduras
Article content The last time he was in B.C. Place, Niko Sigur was a wide-eyed ball boy, watching Jonathan David and the Canadian men's national team thump French Guiana 4-1 in Nations League qualifying. Article content Tuesday night, the Burnaby native was on the receiving end of a give and go with the star Canadian striker, scoring his first goal for the Reds in a 6-0 domination of Honduras. It was Canada's opening match in the Gold Cup tournament, which will continue for them next week in Houston. Article content Article content It was the sixth cap for the 21-year-old, who had dozens of friends and family who were part of the 24,286 in the stands at B.C. Place. He'd said Friday he wasn't just here to soak up the experience. He wanted to contribute. Article content GOAL 🇨🇦 NIKO SIGUR SCORES HIS FIRST FOR THE #CANMNT 😎 Canada go up 1-0 over Honduras with a smooth give-and-go, finished perfectly 💪 🔴 Watch Gold Cup on OneSoccer & TSN — OneSoccer (@onesoccer) June 18, 2025 Article content Article content Article content When he was that ballboy watching play in 2019, he wasn't just soaking up the experience. He was judging, assessing, comparing, and pondering if he had the technical ability to play at that level on this day. Article content Article content 'I always knew in the back of my mind that I could play there one day, and here I am,' said the utility back, who held down the right side of Canada's back line on Tuesday. Article content 'I'm not really happy just being here and being a part of it. I want to contribute, and I know I can contribute. It's nice to be here, but I also want to make an impact and help the team.' Article content For Sigur, it's been a long and winding road to the national team. From the Whitecaps academy, to York University, to a stint with the League One Vaughn Azzuri in Ontario, he moved to Slovenia, playing for Radomlje's youth team, eventually transferring to the academy of Croatia's Hajduk Split in 2022. By 2023, he'd played his way onto the first team. A year later, the Croatian-Canadian dual citizen switched his national team allegiance to Canada.
New York Times
24-02-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Daniel Jebbison commits to Canada in latest significant dual-national coup
After years of trying to convince Daniel Jebbison to join Canada's men's national team, Canada Soccer has landed one of the most sought-after dual-nationals in the program's history. Jebbison, a 21-year-old center forward and former England youth international, has agreed to represent Canada, multiple sources with understanding of the decision told The Athletic. Those sources spoke on the condition of anonymity to protect relationships. Jebbison was born in Oakville, Ontario, but is eligible to represent England and Jamaica through his parents. Advertisement An official announcement from Canada Soccer is expected soon. Jebbison has begun the process of his FIFA one-time change of association. Should that be completed in time, he would likely attend his first Canada training camp in March as part of the Concacaf Nations League finals. Canada will face Mexico in the semifinals, with the winner advancing to meet either the U.S. or Panama. Jebbison has been a regular substitute for the Premier League's Bournemouth in the second half of this season since returning from a loan to Championship side Watford. Jebbison has two goals in two FA Cup appearances this season but has not scored in eight substitute appearances in the Premier League. On Saturday, Canada manager Jesse Marsch attended Bournemouth's 1-0 loss to Wolves at Vitality Stadium to see Jebbison come on in the 89th minute. GO DEEPER Canada lands a forward on the rise – one with significant Promise There have been several dual-nationals Marsch has been focused on bringing into the fold since he took the job in May. They include crafty Croatian-Canadian midfielder Niko Sigur, whom he landed in August, and hulking Nigerian-Canadian forward Promise David, who just gave his commitment. Jebbison has been highly coveted by previous Canada coaches as well, with John Herdman having been in contact with the forward. That's with good reason: his combination of size, European experience early in his career and tantalizing upside have made him arguably the most intriguing Canadian dual-national recruit in recent memory. Jebbison last played for England's Under-20 side in May 2023 at the FIFA U-20 World Cup. Before that, he was part of the England team that won the 2022 U-19 European Championship (he scored one goal, vs. Serbia in the group stage). Canada pushed their chips in on landing Jebbison after another dual-national with high potential, Luka Kulenović, was scooped up by Bosnia and Herzegovina. The high pressing worked. To lure him, Marsch had a number of conversations with the player and his representation. Marsch stressed newfound urgency with the 2026 World Cup less than two years away. Advertisement Jebbison was also partly convinced of how he could thrive with Canada thanks to a video Marsch and his staff created. The video highlighted the central principles and strengths of this Canada team: sprinting in transition, aggression and relentless movement among them. Following clips of Canada at its best, the video then displayed clips of Jebbison displaying those exact same strengths in his own game. The hope was that he would feel comfortable in transitioning to Canada's pressing game in short order. To aid in Canada's recruitment, it turned to three top stars to record video messages expressing their interest in having him join the program: Alphonso Davies, Jonathan David and Alistair Johnston. Marsch also put a personal touch in his recruitment plan by creating a one-off Canada-themed pair of Air Jordans to gift to Jebbison. Those with understanding of the decision believe Jebbison leaned toward Canada because he always felt he would eventually represent his birth country. Still, that Marsch pried Jebbison away from England and the potential opportunities down the road there, is a significant win. It's an indicator that perhaps the soccer world is looking at Canada differently. Jebbison also fills a need, as under Marsch, the Canadians have not been clinical enough. Through 13 games, they have scored just 12 goals, with four of those coming against lowly Suriname (currently 138th in FIFA's world ranking) and only four others coming against non-Concacaf teams. GO DEEPER Out in the cold, Greenland eyes Concacaf for sporting legitimacy Defensively, they're a vastly improved side, and tactically, they appear to have a clear plan heading into 2026. Yet Canada also scored just one goal in the Copa América group stage. The minimum number of goals a team scored while advancing out of the group stage in the 2022 World Cup was two (U.S. and Poland). Even accounting for possibly weaker opponents in 2026 thanks to an increased field of 48, Canada is going to have to score more in tournament play to get out of the group stage for the first time ever in a men's World Cup. Advertisement While Canada sees potential in its new player, Jebbison sees opportunity. The chance to all but surely play for a home side in a World Cup is one most professionals rarely get. Even at that point, Jebbison will not yet be in his prime. Proof of what a strong World Cup can do for Canadians' club careers can be seen in Tajon Buchanan, who moved to Inter Milan in part due to his electric play in Qatar. At the very least, Jebbison's addition provides some much-needed forward depth for Canada. Jonathan David is a lock for a starting spot in 2026. But he is also used as more of a No. 10 than a forward stationed directly in front of goal. Cyle Larin is the team's pure No. 9 and is highly valued thanks to his leadership and increased work rate. But he's also scored just one goal since Marsch took over, against Panama. Jebbison might not have Larin's experience, but there's a belief around the Canada camp that if he gets regular club playing time, he could challenge Larin come '26. He immediately slots in at third on Canada's center forward depth chart. Promise David's recent rapid ascent puts him in the mix, but he also has just one season of experience in Belgium under his belt. Elsewhere, Tani Oluwaseyi and Theo Bair will keep getting call-ups but have yet to mount any challenge for a starting role. Jebbison has yet to offer the consistency needed to become more of a sure thing, but the glimpses have been there. He became the youngest player in Premier League history to score in his first start, doing so at 17 years, 309 days for Sheffield United in May 2021. He has not found the back of the net since in the Premier League, though. Instead, he's progressed steadily through the English ranks. In 2021-22, he scored seven goals on loan with League One's Burton Albion, where he spent most of his season. Jebbison returned to Sheffield United in the Championship in 2022-23. The step up from one division to the next was encouraging for his development, but he still scored just once in 16 appearances. Unfortunately, a blood clot limited him to just 20 minutes in 2023-24. He was given a fresh start with Bournemouth, which inked Jebbison to a four-year contract this past summer before sending him on loan to Watford, where he went goalless in 13 appearances and only made three starts. Still, it's the potential that makes him a worthy and tantalizing add for Canada. At 6-foot-3, he has the kind of size that should help him be dangerous with his hold-up play. He can combine that with a knack for sniffing out open areas inside the box to pounce. Beyond his raw tools, there's also the potential for him to play in European competition next season leading into the World Cup, with Bournemouth currently only one point off a UEFA Europa League spot in the Premier League table. Advertisement Jebbison is still at the beginning of his development curve. That Marsch has a history of refining young talents within the Red Bull system could be an extra boon. His addition is far less of a play to win this year's Nations League and Gold Cup than it is to solidify the 2026 squad. Come that year, there will be more eyeballs than ever on him, and if he remains on an upward trajectory, he could find himself making his World Cup debut in Toronto during Canada's opener, just down the road from his hometown.
