Owen Goodman has always felt a strong connection to Canada, despite being born in England. In order to be eligible to play for the Canadian men’s national soccer team, he needed to establish his Canadian ties.
Last month, the 21-year-old goalkeeper was pleasantly surprised when his immigration lawyer in Toronto requested a Zoom call. Goodman, who spent eight years of his childhood in Alliston, Ont., thought it was a routine update on his citizenship application process.
The call, however, brought the news he had been eagerly awaiting: His childhood residency in Canada granted him Canadian citizenship. Excited about this development, Goodman is now in Toronto preparing for his debut with the national team, including an upcoming friendly match against Ecuador at BMO Field.
Reflecting on the moment he received the life-changing call, Goodman recalled feeling overwhelmed with joy and excitement. He immediately shared the news with his English father, Nigerian mother, and Jan Lang, the manager of the Canadian team, who informed head coach Jesse Marsch.
After swiftly completing the final step of his citizenship journey by taking the Oath of Citizenship in Canada, Goodman returned to his club, Huddersfield Town. He described the experience as akin to winning a final match after a long and challenging journey.
Goodman’s decision to pursue Canadian citizenship was influenced by his fond memories of childhood in Canada and his aspiration for a successful goalkeeping career. Despite receiving an offer to play for Nigeria’s national team, he remained determined to represent Canada.
Looking ahead, the competition for the starting goalkeeper position in Canada’s World Cup squad has been a tough decision for coach Jesse Marsch. While Dayne St. Clair and Maxime Crépeau have been strong contenders, Marsch hinted that the final decision may come down to one of them.
Although Goodman acknowledges that his chances of starting in the upcoming World Cup might be slim due to his late arrival in the national team camp, he remains grateful for the opportunity and is focused on making the most of his time with the team. With aspirations to play at the English Premier League level, Goodman is determined to secure a spot in the World Cup squad to pave the way for his future tournaments.
In Goodman’s words, achieving his dream of playing for the Canadian national team has been a lifelong goal, and he is committed to making it a reality.