Canada soccer player Johnston doesn’t sweat the big stuff

Defender aims to continue Canada's historic World Cup run

Published Jul 03, 2026  •  Last updated 5 minutes ago  •  2 minute read

Canada's defender Alistair Johnston (left) and midfielder Stephen Eustaquio celebrate after their team won a 2026 World Cup round of 32 football match against South Africa at the Los Angeles Stadium in Inglewood, Calif., on June 28, 2026. Photo by Etienne Laurent /Getty Images

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The farthest that Canada’s men’s national team has ever been in a World Cup, and a chance to continue writing soccer history.

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But no pressure.

For Alistair Johnston, it’s about staying in the moment. The defender has been part of Canada’s history-making World Cup run thus far, and wants to keep it going as the Canadians face Morocco in the Round of 16 on Saturday at 1 p.m. ET in Houston. The match is being touted as a “David vs. Goliath” situation (no prizes for guessing who David is), but you wouldn’t know it from Johnston, who is ready to stun the world with a Canadian victory.

“It’s incredibly special!” the Glasgow Celtic player told the Toronto Sun via email. “Growing up, you dream about playing in matches like this, but it’s even more meaningful knowing what it represents for soccer in Canada. We’ve worked hard as a team to help move the game forward, and now we have the chance to play in front of Canadian fans on one of the biggest stages in the sport. It’s something we’ll remember for years to come.”

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Of course, matches such as this are special, but Johnston says it’s about keeping your focus on what’s in front of you and what you can control.

Don’t think too much

“I try not to overthink or reinvent the wheel,” he said. “The occasion is obviously bigger, but my preparation stays pretty consistent. Mentally, it’s about staying present and focusing on things I can control, and physically, I try my best to implement the same routine.”

Canadian fans have been the loud and proud 12th man every step of the way on this World Cup campaign, and Johnston says the team will rely on that support come match day.

“Without question,” Johnston says about the fans helping. “We’ve felt the support everywhere we’ve played, whether it’s been at home or seeing Canadian fans travel across the world to back us. The connection between this team and our supporters has been a huge part of the journey.”

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