Former SU midfielder Tajon Buchanan named to Canada’s 2026 World Cup roster
Former Syracuse midfielder Tajon Buchanan will be the first SU alum to participate in multiple World Cups after being named to Canada's 2026 World Cup roster. Max Freund | Daily Orange File Photo
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Former Syracuse midfielder Tajon Buchanan was named to the Canada men’s national team’s 2026 World Cup roster Friday evening. A Brampton, Ontario, native, Buchanan will be the first SU alum to participate in multiple World Cups after competing in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Buchanan played at Syracuse from 2017-18, scoring 12 goals and tallying six assists across two seasons. He was selected in the first round of the 2019 Major League Soccer SuperDraft, beginning his pro career with the New England Revolution.
In June 2021, Buchanan broke through with the Canadian national team, tallying two assists in a 7-0 win over Aruba in his senior debut in the World Cup Qualifiers.
Around the same time, Buchanan made the jump to Europe. In August 2021, he signed with Club Brugge in Belgium for $7 million, then the most expensive fee for a player in Revolution history. Across three seasons with Club Brugge, Buchanan made 52 appearances and scored three goals.
After excelling in Europe, Buchanan became a staple for the Canadian national team, earning him a call-up for the 2022 World Cup alongside former SU teammate Kamal Miller. The two became the first Syracuse alums to play in a World Cup when they took the pitch in Qatar. Buchanan assisted Canada’s first-ever World Cup goal against Croatia on Nov. 27, 2022.
“As a kid, you dream of playing in the Champions League, and you dream about playing in the World Cup for your country,” Buchanan told The Daily Orange in October 2025. “I think that’s definitely up there with one of the best moments of my career so far.”
Buchanan’s performances in Belgium and Qatar were enough to earn him a move to Inter Milan in 2024, one of Europe’s biggest clubs. He became the first Canadian to ever play in Serie A, the Italian first division.
Buchanan made just 17 appearances with Inter before being loaned to Spanish side Villarreal, where he found his form as one of the most dynamic wingers in La Liga. He even scored a hat trick on Aug. 24, 2025, becoming the first Canadian to record one in the Spanish top flight.
Since then, Buchanan’s been a steady presence in both Canada and Villarreal’s lineups. His call-up for this summer’s competition cements one of the best professional careers by a Syracuse soccer alum.
The Canadians kick off their 2026 World Cup campaign on June 12 against Bosnia and Herzegovina in Toronto, followed by matchups with Qatar on June 18 and Switzerland on June 24. They’ll eye a knockout round berth after losing all three games at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
