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Vancouver FC Midfielder Taryck 'TJ' Tahid Answers Canada Call

September 18, 2023 - Canadian Premier League (CPL)
Vancouver FC News Release


Langley, BC - Vancouver FC midfielder Taryck 'TJ' Tahid has been called up by Canada's U-17 men's national team for an upcoming friendly series in Brazil, earning his first youth international nod at the age of 16.

Tahid will join Canada for a two-match international series against defending FIFA U-17 World Cup champions Brazil. The friendlies are set for September 29, 2023 and October 1, 2023 in São Paulo.

These matches mark the next step for Canada's squad on the road to the 2023 FIFA U-17 World Cup, which will be hosted in Indonesia from November 10, 2023 to December 2, 2023. Canada qualified for the biennial tournament through the Concacaf Under-17 Championship in February in Guatemala. This will be the first FIFA U-17 World Cup since before the global pandemic when Canada and Brazil faced each other in the group phase on the opening day in Gama at Brazil 2019. The hosts Brazil won the tournament three weeks later at the same stadium.

"I am so honoured and excited to earn my first call for my country," said Tahid. "It has been a whirlwind season with many amazing moments, but this is certainly one of the most special so far. I hope I can take what I've learned with Vancouver FC and make it count on the international stage."

Tahid inked his first professional deal with Vancouver on May 6, 2023, becoming the youngest player in Canadian Premier League (CPL) history to sign a standard professional contract at 16 years and 16 days old. Tahid became the youngest player to appear in a CPL match during his debut as a second half substitute in Vancouver's inaugural home opener on May 7, 2023, and once again made history as the league's youngest ever scorer when he netted his first goal against Pacific FC on June 2, 2023. The young forward has made six starts in eighteen appearances overall for Vancouver this season.

"TJ is a tremendous competitor and has shown massive improvement this season," said Afshin Ghotbi, Head Coach, Vancouver FC. "It is difficult to imagine that he's only 16-years-old with the football IQ and the temperament of a seasoned professional. I'm incredibly excited for TJ and believe he will be a great contributor for the Canadian National team at the U-17 level and beyond."

Tahid will be joining the rest of the Canadian U-17 squad in Brazil for training on Saturday, September 23, following Vancouver's upcoming match at Valour FC on Wednesday, September 20. Tahid is also eligible to represent Ghana in international competitions because of his Ghanaian heritage on his father's side.

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