Jayden Nelson of Brampton, Ontario has been added to the Canadian men’s soccer team two days prior to the commencement of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. According to Chris Jones of CBC Sports, Nelson is an injury replacement for attacking midfielder Marcelo Flores of Georgetown, Ontario. Flores was initially announced to Team Canada on May 29, but then injured his anterior cruciate ligament while playing for Mexico’s Tigres in the 2026 CONCACAF Champions Cup Final in Toluca, Mexico on May 30.
Nelson is currently a winger for Austin FC in Major League Soccer. He has two goals in 10 games with Austin FC in 2026. Nelson is a veteran of the MLS. He has played 78 MLS games since 2020. Nelson had one goal in 45 games with Toronto FC from 2020 to 2022, and then two goals in 23 games with the Vancouver Whitecaps in 2025.
From 2023 to 2025, Nelson also played for Rosenborg of Norway’s Eliteserien. In 35 games, Nelson had five goals.
On the international side, Nelson has three goals in 14 games for Canada. The most meaningful goal came on July 4, 2023, as Nelson scored the game-winning goal for Canada in a 4-2 win over Cuba at the CONCACAF Gold Cup in Houston, Texas. Team Canada’s first game of the 2026 FIFA World Cup is on Friday against Bosnia and Herzegovina in Toronto.
