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Cyle Larin celebrates in front of CANMNT fans

Eight former L1O players heading to FIFA World Cup

By League1 Ontario staff, 11/13/22, 10:45AM EST

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Here's a who's who guide to the L1O alumni to look out for in Qatar.

Larin

The Canada Men's National Team has been confirmed for the 2022 Qatar World Cup, with eight former L1O players called-up to the squad.

Read on to find out more about the L1O alumni who will be representing Canada in Qatar.

St. Clair

Dayne St. Clair
Age: 25
Position: Goalkeeper
Birthplace: Pickering, Ontario
Current club: Minnesota United
Previous L1O club: Vaughan Azzurri
Senior CANMNT apps: 2

St. Clair made his debut for the senior team in a FIFA World Cup qualification game against Aruba with Canada securing a 7-0 win. 
He previously played for New York Red Bulls U23s before being drafted by Minnesota in 2019. After two successful loan spells with Forward Madison and San Antonio, St. Clair is a regular for Minnesota and was voted MVP of the 2022 MLS All-Star game. 
 

Johnston

Alistair Johnston
Age: 24
Position: Defender
Birthplace: Vancouver, British Columbia 
Current club: CF Montréal
Previous L1O club: Vaughan Azzurri 
Senior CANMNT apps: 29

Johnston developed his soccer with Vaughan Azzurri in a successful spell that saw him represent the club in the Canadian Championship. In 2020 he was drafted by Nashville and helped the team reach the MLS Cup Playoffs, before signing for CF Montréal the following year. Johnston scored his first goal for the national team in their 2022 World Cup qualifying match against the Cayman Islands. 

Laryea

Richie Laryea
Age: 27
Position: Defender
Birthplace: Toronto, Ontario 
Current club: Toronto FC (on loan from Nottingham Forest)
Previous L1O club: Sigma
Senior CANMNT apps: 33 

Laryea was part of Sigma’s academy and went on to play for the club’s senior side in 2015 where he was named a Men’s Premier Division All-Star. The following year he was drafted by Orlando City and then made his MLS debut in June 2017, substituting on for Brazilian legend Kaká. Laryea has made 32 appearances for Canada. His parent club is Premier League side Nottingham Forest, but he is currently on loan at Toronto FC. 
 

Miller

Kamal Miller
Age: 25
Position: Defender
Birthplace: Scarborough, Ontario 
Current club: CF Montréal 
Previous L1O club: Vaughan Azzurri
Senior CANMNT apps: 28 

Miller featured for the national team at the 2019 and 2021 Concacaf Gold Cups and has made 27 appearances for Canada, also registering caps at U20 level. In 2019 he was drafted by Orlando City and the following year he moved to Austin FC before immediately being transferred to CF Montréal. Miller has been a strong addition to Montréal and was one of the commissioner's picks for the 2022 MLS All-Star Game.
 

Fraser

Liam Fraser
Age: 24
Position: Midfielder
Birthplace: Toronto, Ontario
Current club: Deinze
Previous L1O club: Toronto FC III
Senior CANMNT apps: 15

Fraser began his soccer journey with Waterloo United before moving on to Toronto FC III and playing in League1 Ontario. The midfielder worked his way through the ranks at Toronto and following a loan spell to Columbus Crew, Fraser now finds himself at Belgian side Deinze. He made his debut for the Canadian senior team in October 2019 by coming on as a substitute in a 2-0 win against USA, his first of 14 caps to date. 

Kaye

Mark-Anthony Kaye
Age: 27
Position: Midfielder
Birthplace: Toronto, Ontario
Current club: Toronto FC 
Previous L1O club: Toronto FC III
Senior CANMNT apps: 37

Kaye is a versatile midfielder who has an impressive national team resume having won 32 caps and scored two goals – both came in an 11-0 thrashing of the Cayman Islands in 2021. In his early career, he was part of the Toronto FC Academy and played in L1O before being loaned out to USL side Wilmington Hammerheads. Since then, Kaye has played in MLS for the likes of Los Angeles FC and Colorado Rapids, and he is now back with Toronto’s senior team. 

Larin

Cyle Larin
Age: 27
Position: Forward
Birthplace: Brampton, Ontario 
Current club: Club Brugge
Previous L1O club: Sigma
Senior CANMNT apps: 54

Canada’s all-time top scorer was born in Brampton and at the age of 11 joined Sigma. In 2015 Larin became the first Canadian to be chosen first overall in the MLS SuperDraft, signing with Orlando City where he averaged a goal every two games during his three-year spell. Since 2014 he’s found the net 25 times in 54 appearances for Canada, and he is now a co-owner at L1O side Simcoe County Rovers.

Buchanan

Tajon Buchanan
Age: 23
Position: Forward
Birthplace: Brampton, Ontario
Current club: Club Brugge
Previous L1O club: Sigma
Senior CANMNT apps: 25

Buchanan has made 25 appearances for Canada and in 2021 he was named the Concacaf Gold Cup Best Young Player. His career began with Brampton Youth SC at the age of eight and in 2018 he joined Sigma’s League1 Ontario side. New England Revolution became his home in 2019, where he made 50 league appearances across two years, before leaving for Europe and joining Club Brugge – with fellow national Cyle Larin.