As 2026 FIFA World Cup fever begins sweeping across Canada, one of the country’s brightest soccer stars, Tajon Buchanan, says he is “feeling really good” and fully focused on helping Canada make history on home soil.
The 27-year-old winger from Brampton has emerged as one of the faces of Canadian soccer ahead of the biggest sporting event ever hosted in North America, with his image now appearing on national advertising campaigns, billboards and television commercials across the country.
Currently playing for Villarreal CF in Spain’s top-flight La Liga, Buchanan admits the growing recognition still feels surreal.
“Obviously it’s new,” Buchanan said during a video interview from his home in Spain. “I usually stay to myself and was never really big into media and marketing stuff. But with the World Cup coming to our country, these opportunities become important.”
Buchanan’s journey to the global stage reflects one of Canadian soccer’s biggest success stories.
After growing up in Brampton, he developed through local soccer before playing collegiately at Syracuse University in the United States. He later launched his professional career with New England Revolution before making the leap to Europe.
His European career has continued to rise steadily, beginning with a move to Club Brugge KV in Belgium before joining Italian giants Inter Milan in 2024.
In 2025, Buchanan arrived at Villarreal amid uncertainty while recovering from a serious leg injury suffered during training with the Canadian national team ahead of the Copa America tournament.
The recovery process proved mentally and physically demanding.
“I was trying to get back to my best level and regain my fitness,” he explained. “It was definitely a difficult period.”
However, Villarreal’s decision to make his move permanent last summer helped restore confidence and stability. Buchanan responded with one of the best seasons of his career, recording seven goals and an assist in 34 league appearances.
“Once things became permanent, I could relax and just focus on football again,” he said. “The coaches have helped me so much and from there everything started flowing. I’ve been feeling really good.”
Buchanan was also joined in Spain this season by fellow Canadian international Tani Oluwaseyi after Villarreal acquired the striker from Minnesota United FC.
The two Canadians quickly formed a close friendship, helping each other adapt to life and football in Europe.
“To have another Canadian over here playing for such a big club, we relate in so many different ways,” Buchanan said.
Oluwaseyi echoed those feelings, saying Buchanan’s presence helped make his transition easier.
“Being the only person from your part of the world can be difficult,” Oluwaseyi said. “Having Tajon there, someone who experienced the same move from MLS to Europe, definitely made things easier.”
This week, Buchanan and Oluwaseyi are among 32 players attending Canada’s national team training camp in Charlotte as preparations intensify for the upcoming World Cup.
Head coach Jesse Marsch is expected to finalize Canada’s 26-man World Cup roster later this week.
Buchanan believes the current Canadian squad may be the deepest and strongest in the country’s history.
“We have players who have played in big games and big moments,” he said. “At any time, anyone can step onto the field and make a difference. That’s important if we want to do something special.”
Canada opens its World Cup campaign on June 12 in Toronto against Bosnia-Herzegovina before travelling to Vancouver for group-stage matches against Qatar and Switzerland.
For Buchanan, the opportunity to represent Canada at home in front of family, friends and supporters across the country carries enormous emotional significance.
“I don’t think any of us truly know what it’s going to feel like until that moment arrives,” he said. “The biggest sporting event in the world being played in Toronto and Vancouver — it’s incredible. I’m excited to see the country get behind us and for us to go out there and perform for the entire nation.”