‘There will be tears’: Jacob Shaffelburg’s family eagerly anticipating FIFA World Cup debut

Nova Scotia’s Jacob Shaffleburg has joined Team Canada for his first full training session.

Maritimers have an extra incentive to cheer on Team Canada at the FIFA World Cup beginning this week, as Nova Scotia’s Jacob Shaffleburg joined the team Monday for his first full training session.

The Port Williams, N.S., native’s status was in doubt after missing most of the year with an injury that left some wondering if he would make it back in time for the tournament. However, on Monday, he joined Team Canada’s practice ahead of the tournament.

The news was a relief for family and soccer fans in Nova Scotia.

“My expectations in January and maybe three weeks ago would be that he wouldn’t be part of this team,” said Jacob’s father Mike Shaffelburg.

Shaffelburg has spent most of 2026 on the injured-reserve list. The 26-year-old currently plays professionally for Major League Soccer’s Los Angelas FC and has been part of the Canadian National Team since 2020.

Shaffelburg underwent a sports hernia operation in January. That recovery sidelined him for three-months and, upon return to the game he injured his hamstring.

While the injuries were challenging, Mike Shaffelburg says they only reinforced what he already knew about his son.

“You need a lot of resiliency to push through and Jacob has that,” he said.

Shaffelburg’s former youth provincial coach Mark Sweetapple says the player Canadians see today on the pitch isn’t that different from the one who stood out as youngster competing for Nova Scotia.

“He played a lot of the similar style that he still plays today,” he said. “He played left wing, he loved taking players on, getting crosses in, scoring goals. That was his game and he’s just gotten better and better.”

It’s not clear if Shaffelburg will be able to play on Friday when Canada opens the FIFA World Cup against Bosnia-Herzegovina, but both his father and former provincial coach will be there in Toronto hoping he’ll be ready.

“It’ll be a very emotional time,” said Shaffelburg’s father. “There will be tears.”

A lot of Nova Scotians will be watching closely and cheering on Shaffelburg who plays a high intensity kind of soccer, where he uses his speed to create scoring opportunities.

“It’ll just be a proud moment to know that he, he’s there and he’s representing not just himself but all the other players from the province that he played with and all the other kids who are just here playing,” said Sweetapple.

While Nova Scotia has long been known for producing world class hockey players, Shaffelburg is doing his part to put the province on the world soccer map too.

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