Soccer fans throughout Aurora cheered on one of their own last night, as Alistair Johnston lined-up for Canada against Argentina in the Copa America semifinal.
Team Canada right back Johnston grew up in Aurora, cutting his teeth at Aurora Youth Soccer Club before also playing at Aurora High School. Aurora Football Club had a viewing party for the July 9 match at Stewart Burnett Park, with young players cheering on one of the club’s former members despite the 2-0 loss for Canada.
Aurora FC high performance goalie coach Don Ferguson remembers when a young Johnston would come to fitness training at the club, always being the first to arrive.
“Congrats to Aurora’s own Alistair Johnston and Team Canada making the semifinals! Looking forward to that match against Argentina,” Aurora Mayor Tom Mrakas wrote in a tribute to Johnston as a post to social media.
Congrats to Aurora’s own Alistair Johnston and Team Canada making the semifinals!!! Looking forward to that match against Argentina… #GoCanadaGo #AuroraProud pic.twitter.com/ppwkyMy1vs
— Mayor Tom Mrakas (@TMrakas) July 6, 2024
This is the first time Canada has appeared in the CONMEBOL Copa America, a cup competition featuring the best teams from North and South America.
The two nations had already played against each other at the tournament.
Despite the loss, the 48th-ranked Canadians did not disappoint before a lively crowd of 80,102 on a hot, humid night at MetLife Stadium, home of the NFL's New York Giants and Jets, as well as the venue for the 2026 FIFA World Cup final.
Johnston started all five of Canada's matches during the tournament, including the whole 120 minutes of the quarter-final against Venezuela, which Canada won on penalties 4-3 after tying the game 1-1.
Johnston one of 'Aurora’s own'
Born in Vancouver, Johnston was four years old when his family moved from Vancouver to Montreal. At the age of seven, his family moved to Aurora.
Johnston would later go on to play for the Vaughn Azzuri while studying at university. He was selected in the MLS draft in 2020 for Nashville, before moving to CF Montreal in 2021.
That same year he made his debut for the Canadian national team, going on to play for the team at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
Johnston now plies his trade in Scotland where he plays for Celtic FC, where he has won back-to-back Scottish league titles.
Canada next heads to Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte for Saturday's third-place game.
