As Canada prepares to be joint hosts of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the nation’s football team is finding motivation in unexpected places.
Celtic defender Alistair Johnston has become a vocal figure in the ongoing political and cultural tensions between Canada and the United States, particularly in response to comments made by current U.S. President Donald Trump.
Trump’s recent threats to Canada, Mexico, and Panama have stirred controversy, with Canadian national team manager Jesse Marsch previously criticising the President’s rhetoric.
Johnston, however, has taken a more direct approach, using the political climate as a rallying cry for his team and country.
In a recent interview with The Guardian ahead of the Concacaf semi-final against Mexico, Johnston reflected on the impact of Trump’s words on his family and the broader Canadian community.
“I grew up in a family where education was put to the forefront. Football came second,” the 26-year-old said. “The current political climate is at the forefront of not just my mind but also my family back home. I hear a lot about the stress and the unease it’s put on them.”
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Johnston emphasised the resilience of Canadians in the face of adversity, drawing parallels to the nation’s success in hockey, with Canada defeating the USA 3-2 at the end of February.
And the Celtic favourite sees the upcoming Nations League fixtures as a crucial opportunity for Canada to unite and inspire its citizens during these challenging times.
“It’s been really powerful to watch and to see how united it’s made people," he continued. "There’s such a level of respect we’ve had for Americans throughout history. But when you start to break that, you can see how strong the Canadians react. I think it sums up Canada: we treat everyone with respect but at the same time don’t take that respect, generosity for weakness.
“We have shown through hockey, look how unified, how fired up [we are]. I was up at the crack of dawn [in Scotland] watching those games. We’re lucky enough as a team that the [Nations League] is coming in at a pretty important time for Canada. Times are difficult. The economy is going to struggle because of a trade war. Difficult choices. Some are going to lose their jobs. People are going to look for something to clasp on to.
“We saw what the hockey team did, they came through in the biggest moment. We’re going to have our chance here to do it and build even more momentum going into the 2026 World Cup. Our country is under threat, under attack … it should add an extra couple of degrees of intensity.”
