St. John's University Athletics
Alistair Johnston and Tani Oluwaseyi Named to Canada’s World Cup Roster
5/29/2026 9:03:00 PM | Men's Soccer
Pair of former players will represent St. John’s on the international stage in the 2026 World Cup
QUEENS, N.Y.– Former St. John's men's soccer players Alistair Johnston and Tani Oluwaseyi were named Canada's 2026 World Cup roster in 2026 as the nation's soccer federation unveiled its 24-man roster on Friday night.
The pair will represent St. John's University on the international stage as Canada serves as one of three host countries for the World Cup, alongside the United States and Mexico. Johnston (2016-17) will make his second World Cup appearance and Oluwaseyi (2018-21) will make his roster debut this summer. Oluwaseyi becomes the third-ever St. John's player to make a World Cup joining countryman Johnston and Brent Sancho, who appeared in three matches for Trinidad & Tobago in 2006.
Team Canada will open up Group B play on June 12 at 3 p.m. against Bosnia & Herzegovina on FOX, Peacock and Telemundo. The squad will compete in its final two group stage contests against Qatar on June 18 at 6 p.m. and Switzerland on June 24 at 6 p.m.
Oluwaseyi, originally from Mississauga, Ontario played four seasons in Queens from 2018-21 racked up 50 points (20 goals, 10 assists) in under 50 appearances for the Red Storm. Arriving on campus in 2018, the forward made an instant impact logging four goals and two assists over 18 appearances as a rookie. He went onto be named to the BIG EAST All-Freshman Team.
The following year, the sophomore became the first St. John's player at that time to tally double-digit goals (11) since 2003 guiding the Johnnies to a 14-5-1 overall record and an NCAA Tournament Round of 16 appearance. He was named the 2019 BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Year, a United Soccer Team First Team All-Region and All-BIG EAST First Team honoree after leading the conference in goals and finished second in points (27).
During the spring 2021 season, the junior was tabbed to the Preseason Watch List for the MAC Hermann Trophy. Oluwaseyi registered five goals and three assists in nine appearances during the shortened campaign. Due to injury, he only played in two matches his senior season as the Red Storm qualified for the NCAA Tournament for the second time during his tenure.
Oluwaseyi began his professional career after being selected by Minnesota United with the 17th overall pick during the 2022 MLS SuperDraft. Starting out with the USL side San Antonio F.C. the striker tallied an impressive 18 goals and seven assists over 26 appearances. In 2024, he made his first MLS start and ranked second on Minnesota United in scoring that season with eight goals and followed it up with 10 goals and 18 across 24 caps the following year. In the summer of 2025, he became the first-ever St. John's player to compete one of Europe's top-five professional leagues, signing with Villareal F.C. The 26-year old made nine starts for the club in La Liga adding a pair of goals and assists and finished two chances in UEFA Champions League Competition. On the international level, he has played in 22 games and made 12 starts for Canada.
Johnston spent two seasons with the Red Storm in 2016-17, where he registered 10 goals and four assists starting in all 36 appearances. During his rookie campaign, the midfielder was the lone freshman to start every game and totaled 1,608 out of 1,626 possible minutes. The Aurora, Ontario native added four goals, which ranked third on the team and went onto be tabbed to the BIG EAST All-Freshman Team. As a sophomore, Johnston led the Johnnies with 16 points racking up six goals and four assists. He was named to the BIG EAST All-Tournament Team.
After finishing his collegiate career at Wake Forest, Johnston was selected by Nashville SC with the 11th overall pick in the 2020 MLS SuperDraft. The outside back played two seasons in Nashville and made a brief stint with CF Montreal. In 2022, he went to Celtic competing in the top flight of Scottish Football. During his time in Glasgow, the 27-year old has been apart of two Scottish Premiership titles, two Scottish Cups and played in Europe's top professional competition in the UEFA Champions League.
The pair will represent St. John's University on the international stage as Canada serves as one of three host countries for the World Cup, alongside the United States and Mexico. Johnston (2016-17) will make his second World Cup appearance and Oluwaseyi (2018-21) will make his roster debut this summer. Oluwaseyi becomes the third-ever St. John's player to make a World Cup joining countryman Johnston and Brent Sancho, who appeared in three matches for Trinidad & Tobago in 2006.
Team Canada will open up Group B play on June 12 at 3 p.m. against Bosnia & Herzegovina on FOX, Peacock and Telemundo. The squad will compete in its final two group stage contests against Qatar on June 18 at 6 p.m. and Switzerland on June 24 at 6 p.m.
Oluwaseyi, originally from Mississauga, Ontario played four seasons in Queens from 2018-21 racked up 50 points (20 goals, 10 assists) in under 50 appearances for the Red Storm. Arriving on campus in 2018, the forward made an instant impact logging four goals and two assists over 18 appearances as a rookie. He went onto be named to the BIG EAST All-Freshman Team.
The following year, the sophomore became the first St. John's player at that time to tally double-digit goals (11) since 2003 guiding the Johnnies to a 14-5-1 overall record and an NCAA Tournament Round of 16 appearance. He was named the 2019 BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Year, a United Soccer Team First Team All-Region and All-BIG EAST First Team honoree after leading the conference in goals and finished second in points (27).
During the spring 2021 season, the junior was tabbed to the Preseason Watch List for the MAC Hermann Trophy. Oluwaseyi registered five goals and three assists in nine appearances during the shortened campaign. Due to injury, he only played in two matches his senior season as the Red Storm qualified for the NCAA Tournament for the second time during his tenure.
Oluwaseyi began his professional career after being selected by Minnesota United with the 17th overall pick during the 2022 MLS SuperDraft. Starting out with the USL side San Antonio F.C. the striker tallied an impressive 18 goals and seven assists over 26 appearances. In 2024, he made his first MLS start and ranked second on Minnesota United in scoring that season with eight goals and followed it up with 10 goals and 18 across 24 caps the following year. In the summer of 2025, he became the first-ever St. John's player to compete one of Europe's top-five professional leagues, signing with Villareal F.C. The 26-year old made nine starts for the club in La Liga adding a pair of goals and assists and finished two chances in UEFA Champions League Competition. On the international level, he has played in 22 games and made 12 starts for Canada.
Johnston spent two seasons with the Red Storm in 2016-17, where he registered 10 goals and four assists starting in all 36 appearances. During his rookie campaign, the midfielder was the lone freshman to start every game and totaled 1,608 out of 1,626 possible minutes. The Aurora, Ontario native added four goals, which ranked third on the team and went onto be tabbed to the BIG EAST All-Freshman Team. As a sophomore, Johnston led the Johnnies with 16 points racking up six goals and four assists. He was named to the BIG EAST All-Tournament Team.
After finishing his collegiate career at Wake Forest, Johnston was selected by Nashville SC with the 11th overall pick in the 2020 MLS SuperDraft. The outside back played two seasons in Nashville and made a brief stint with CF Montreal. In 2022, he went to Celtic competing in the top flight of Scottish Football. During his time in Glasgow, the 27-year old has been apart of two Scottish Premiership titles, two Scottish Cups and played in Europe's top professional competition in the UEFA Champions League.
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