By Canadian Press

Toronto FC’s Jacob Shaffelburg earns call-up to Canada squad for World Cup qualifying

Oct 1, 2021 | 12:15 PM

Winger Jacob Shaffelburg, who has turned heads in recent games with Toronto FC, has been called up by Canada for its next batch of CONCACAF World Cup qualifying matches.

The 21-year-old from Port Williams, N.S., joins a 27-man squad that features Alphonso Davies (Bayern Munich), Jonathan David (Lille), Milan Borjan (Red Star Belgrade), Stephen Eustaquio (FC Pacos de Ferreira) and Atiba Hutchinson and Cyle Larin (both Besiktas).

Shaffelburg, a pacey attacker who likes to take on defenders, scored one goal and set up the other two in Toronto’s 3-2 comeback win over FC Cincinnati on Wednesday. He has two goals and four assists in his last four games for Toronto.

Shaffelburg, who has one senior cap to his credit, joins Derek Cornelius (13 caps) and Charles-Andreas Brym (three caps) as first-time call-ups during this World Cup qualifying cycle.

Cornelius is currently with Greece’s Panetolikos, on loan from the Vancouver Whitecaps. Brym plays for FC Eindhoven in the Netherlands.

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Canada (1-0-2) stands second in the Octagonal round-robin standings on goal difference with five points, after defeating El Salvador and tying Honduras and the U.S.

The 51st-ranked Canadian men play at No. 9 Mexico (2-0-1) on Oct. 7 and at No. 59 Jamaica (0-2-1) on Oct 10 before hosting No. 68 Panama (1-0-2) at Toronto’s BMO Field on Oct. 13

“We have three tough matches including back-to-back road matches in altitude and then heat, but we want these tests, and the team is ready for them,” Canada coach John Herdman said in a statement. “The team will enjoy the match in Azteca (Stadium in Mexico City), it’s a great arena for any footballer to play and we are looking forward to meet the Mexicans again following our recent CONCACAF Gold Cup semifinal match.

“It’s a quick turnaround to play against a very talented Jamaican squad, before coming home to play Panama and with our fans behind us, it’s a great way to finish the window.”

Each of the eight teams plays 14 matches in the final round of qualifying, with the top three representing North and Central America and the Caribbean at Qatar 2022, The fourth-place team will take part in an intercontinental playoff to see who joins them.

It’s the first time the Canadian men have reached the final round of CONCACAF qualifying since the leadup to France ’98.

Canada won its first-round group, defeating Aruba, Bermuda, the Cayman Islands and Suriname, before dispatching Haiti in a two-legged second round.

 Canada Soccer says its two November home matches — Nov. 12 against No. 44 Costa Rica (0-1-2) and Mexico on Nov. 16 — will be played at Edmonton’s Commonwealth Stadium.

Canada

Goalkeepers: Milan Borjan, Red Star Belgrade (Serbia); Maxime Crepeau, Vancouver Whitecaps (MLS); James Pantemis, CF Montreal (MLS)

Defenders: Derek Cornelius, Panetolikos FC (Greece); Doneil Henry, Suwon Samsung Bluewings (South Korea); Kamal Miller, CF Montreal (MLS); Steven Vitoria, Moreirense FC (Portugal); Samuel Adekugbe, Hatayspor FC (Turkey); Zachary Brault-Guillard, CF Montreal (MLS); Alistair Johnston, Nashville SC (MLS); Richie Laryea, Toronto FC (MLS).

Midfielders: Stephen Eustaquio, FC Pacos de Ferreira (Portugal); Liam Fraser, Columbus Crew (MLS); Atiba Hutchinson, Besiktas (Turkey); Mark-Anthony Kaye, Colorado Rapids (MLS); Jonathan Osorio, Toronto FC )MLS); Samuel Piette, CF Montreal (MLS); David Wotherspoon, St. Johnstone FC (Scotland).

Forwards: Charles-Andreas Brym, FC Eindhoven (Netherlands); Lucas Cavallini, Vancouver Whitecaps (MLS); Jonathan David, Lille (France); Cyle Larin, Besiktas (Turkey); Tajon Buchanan, New England Revolution (MLS); Alphonso Davies, Bayern Muich (Germany); David (Junior) Hoilett, Reading (England); Liam Millar, FC Basel (Switzerland); Jacob Shaffelburg, Toronto FC (MLS).

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This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct, 1, 2021.

Neil Davidson, The Canadian Press