Aldergrove含羞草研究社檚 Joel Waterman is playing for Canada at the FIFA (Federation Internationale de Football Association) World Cup in Qatar.

For the 26-year-old centre back, who began playing soccer at age five with Aldergrove Youth Soccer Club, it is the achievement of a lifetime dream.

READ ALSO:

Waterman used to have a schedule on his wall with a entry for 2026, the year when Canada, Mexico and the United States were to host the FIFA World Cup, when he hoped to be playing for Canada.

He is four years ahead of schedule, having made his debut on the Canadian team playing against Bahrain in a pre-tournament 含羞草研究社渇riendly含羞草研究社� or exhibition game on Friday, Nov. 11 含羞草研究社� less than two weeks before the World Cup got underway. Waterman played the full 90 minutes, as Canada came from behind to pull off a 2-2 draw.

含羞草研究社淭here were a lot of emotions, but it is a day I will definitely remember for the rest of my life,含羞草研究社� Waterman told the website.

 含羞草研究社淚 called my parents, both my mom and my dad,含羞草研究社� said Waterman. 含羞草研究社淭he family was all together sitting at home watching and when they saw I was starting, you know, they were crying and cheering. There are so many emotions, just knowing what they have sacrificed, making sure I was there on Saturday mornings, all the driving they had to do, and just knowing how many things I had to give up to be here. My parents are a part of this as much as I am, so this was everyone含羞草研究社檚 success.含羞草研究社�

Two days later, he was officially named to the Canadian team.

Waterman含羞草研究社檚 roots go deep in Aldergrove and Langley.

When he turned 12, he joined (LUSA).

At 13, Waterman was selected for the British Columbia provincial team where he was coached by current LUSA technical director Mark Parker.

 Waterman is an alumni of , where he was coached by Brian Hunter and Stuart Crowley, and remembered as a gifted player.

含羞草研究社淭echnically, I was his coach, but Joel played at such a high level, it was more like having a coach on the field,含羞草研究社� Hunter recalled.

This marks Canada含羞草研究社檚 first participation at the men含羞草研究社檚 FIFA World Cup since Mexico 1986, though Hunter noted that Waterman is not the first ACSS grad to play in the tournament.

Another Aldergrove player, Randy Ragan, was a midfielder on the 含羞草研究社�86 team and his jersey, along with Waterman含羞草研究社檚, hangs on the school含羞草研究社檚 Wall of Fame.

In 2014, Waternan began playing for Langley含羞草研究社檚 , where he registered nine goals and five assists in 57 career games (48 starts) and, as team captain, helped the TWU Spartans win a Canada West silver medal.

Waterman made his professional debut in 2018, playing for the Calgary Cavalry FC of the Canadian Premier League, helping Calgary win the spring and fall championships on the way to the CPL finals, where they finished second.

In 2020, he became the club, CF Montr茅al, where he went on to become a regular starter for the club.

READ ALSO:

Canada含羞草研究社檚 first game at the was scheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 23 against Belgium, followed by games on Sunday, Nov. 27 against Croatia, and Thursday, Dec. 1 against Morocco .