CHARLOTTE, N.C. (theACC.com) – Eight former Atlantic Coast Conference men’s soccer student-athletes will compete on soccer’s biggest world stage over the next few weeks as they play in FIFA World Cup 2026, which will be hosted from June 11-July 19 in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
 
The ACC has more than twice as many players competing in FIFA World Cup 2026 than any other conference.
 
Seven of the eight ACC alumni will be making their World Cup debuts. Syracuse alum Tajon Buchanon played in FIFA World Cup 2022 for Canada and will be playing in his second straight World Cup.
 
Three former ACC players will compete for Team USA: North Carolina’s Sebastian Berhalter, Syracuse’s Miles Robinson and Wake Forest’s Mark McKenzie. Robinson was the 2016 ACC Defensive Player of the Year. The Americans begin FIFA World Cup action on Friday, June 12, at 9 p.m. ET in Inglewood, California, against Paraguay.
 
Buchanan will be joined on Team Canada by former Wake Forest standout Alistair Johnston, who is coming off a Scottish Premiership championship with Celtic FC. Virginia’s Joe Bell, the 2019 ACC Midfielder of the Year, will play for New Zealand, while former Cavalier Derrick Etienne Jr. will compete for Haiti, which makes its first World Cup appearance since 1974. Former Pitt and Notre Dame defender Mohammad Abualnadi will play for Jordan, which is making its first-ever World Cup appearance.
 
Former ACC Student-Athletes Competing in FIFA World Cup 2026
Sebastian Berhalter, North Carolina (2019) – USA 
Miles Robinson, Syracuse (2015-16) – USA  
Mark McKenzie, Wake Forest (2017) – USA 
Tajon Buchanon, Syracuse (2017-18) – Canada
Alistair Johnston, Wake Forest (2018-19) – Canada  
Derrick Etienne Jr., Virginia (2015) – Haiti
Mohammad Abualnadi, Pitt (2021)/Notre Dame (2019-21) – Jordan
Joe Bell, Virginia (2017-19) – New Zealand