Canadians Playing Abroad in 2022/23 (Part Two)

As the Canadian Men’s National Football Team is gearing up for what will be a World Cup to remember as they will be playing in the competition for the first time in over 30 years, getting their players in full match fitness between the start of the season and the WC will be of the utmost importance to the main players on the roster.

Players like Alphonso Davies and Jonathan David receive plenty of the spotlight due to the clubs they play for in Davies case, and the sheer talent they bring on the pitch as well, so this group of players won’t be looking at them but rather some of their National Teammates who will undoubtedly need some good game-time as they will all be relied on to help carry the load in Canada’s WC conquest.

Click here for the first group of players covered.

Liam Millar (FC BASEL)

After leaving the Liverpool youth system in 2021, the 22 year old winger will be playing in his second season with the Swiss side out of Basel.

Following loan spells away to Charlton Athletic and Kilmarnock in Scotland from Merseyside, Millar has started his time in Switzerland in pretty good form netting seven times in 31 Super League appearances, while also adding another three in cup competitions last season.

Millar can lineup in any forward position, but his preferred position is as a left winger as he has great pace which can beat defenders as he beats them from running in behind, before being able to finish off of both feet, making him even more lethal when in the box.

This season he will be partnering with seasoned Bulgarian striker Àdàm Szalai for a second season which saw the former Mainz and Hoffenheim striker score four times last season, which is the most he has netted in a league since 2019.

Plenty of compliments can be given to Millar’s game as he continues to grow this season, trying to get more experience before the Qatar World Cup rolls around.

With 15 appearances for John Herdman’s National Team side, he has become regular around the squad, but maybe not in a starting position.

Letting Millar grow more confidence before the tournament rolls around where he can potentially make an impact off the bench, especially with the growing mass of attacking talent the Canadians are amassing, Millar could be a useful piece in the Middle East come November.

Theo Corbeanu (BLackPOOL FC)

Corbeanu, 20, is another product of the English youth setup as he is working his way up the EFL pyramid as the Wolverhampton product was just sent to Championship side Blackpool on a season-long loan.

Standing at 6’2, Corbeanu primarily deploys as a centre forward, but can be moved across the attacking line as a winger or even deeper on the pitch as a number 10.

The Romanian-Canadian has been moving his way up the EFL ladder after successive loan spells to Oldham and MK Dons in League One, which saw the Dons make a push for promotion but ultimately came up short, this season he made the jump to a higher league in the Championship.

He will need to compete for time this season with Gary Madine and Jerry Yates who will most likely be ahead of Corbeanu in the pecking order to start the season but should the Canadian perform it could see him in more of a position of prominence for Blackpool.

For someone who is on the taller side he can also do a great job out wide with his quick feet a great range of passing and crossing abilities as well, which is why he could be played out wide or a bit deeper making him much more versatile than some of his Blackpool teammates.

Corbeanu also excels and holding the ball up before laying it off to a teammate as well.

While the forward might not be a first choice for the National Team, performing well before the tournament starts could see him added to the shortlist of players heading to Qatar, which should be great experience should he be called up.

Expect to see Corbeanu make strides after the tournament and heading into 2026 when the World Cup will be played in North America as he has the talent to take it to the next level.

Sam Adekugbe (Hatayspor)

Sam Adekugbe made a real name for himself during the Canadian Men’s National Team qualification to the 2022 World Cup, capping off a wonderful qualification period bursting forward in the dying embers of a game against the United States to ice the tie, sending Canada officially through to Qatar.

While not a “young talent” as some of his Canadian compatriot’s, Adekugbe’s star has been rising for the Canadians. At 27 the fullback is currently playing for Turkish Super Lig side Hatayspor where he currently holds down their starting left back spot.

A more patient defender, Adekugbe prefers to defend by having good positioning rather than diving into a tackle, and through this he has superb defensive awareness and always knows how to put out a fire before it starts.

Add this onto the fact that he likes to hold and carry the ball up the field, which his Canadian counterpart Richie Lareya also does, as he rounds into a more modern fullback.

Hatayspor is not one of the major players to win many trophies in Turkey, but playing in a league with European competitors like Galatasaray, Fenerbahçe and Besiktas will certainly give Adekugbe valuable experience this season.

If the defender can put in more performances for the Canadians in Qatar, like he did during qualifying, the sky is the limit for the young squad looking to make a mark on the World stage.