Cam Devlin's Canadian roots set stage for World Cup homecoming

Australia's opening match at the FIFA World Cup 2026™ represents a homecoming of sorts for midfielder Cam Devlin. After training camps in Florida and Oakland, the Socceroos have arrived in Canada, a nation Devlin credits with igniting his passion for football as a child.

A Canadian beginning

Devlin moved with his family to Canada at age nine when his parents, both teachers, relocated. He stayed for about a year, celebrating his tenth birthday there. Before the move, he was deeply into rugby league, a sport his father played. In Canada, without access to rugby league, he discovered football.

“Honestly, they were some of the best memories of my childhood with playing football for the first time and that was kind of what started everything for me. I don't know if I would have even played it if I hadn’t gone to Canada,” Devlin told FIFA. “So, it’s really cool to be heading back to the country where it all started for me, it’s a real full circle moment.”

His formative years were spent in Toronto, not Vancouver where Australia will face Türkiye. However, his family remains in touch with friends from that time, and a sizable group is expected to travel west to watch Devlin and the Socceroos kick off their campaign on Saturday.

“Almost 20 years have passed since those days but the friends that my mum and dad had from that time who knew me as a kid will now get to come and watch me play for Australia. So I think that’s a pretty cool thing,” Devlin said.

From Canada to professional football

After returning to Australia, Devlin continued playing, eventually making representative teams. He made his professional debut as a teenager with Sydney FC before joining Scottish club Hearts in mid-2021. Over five seasons in Edinburgh, he became an influential part of a side that pushed Celtic to the final day of the league title race this season.

“Given how well we had done and then to have it taken away like that, it was the worst day of my career for sure. It hurt so much not to be able to bring the trophy back but if I look back on things, for a club like Hearts to be in that position was amazing,” Devlin said.

He added that the disappointment was mitigated by immediately joining the national team camp. “I’m in the fortunate position though of having gone straight from that into camp with the national team because I remember saying to my girlfriend that if we had gone on holidays I might have been non-verbal given how disappointed I was. Coming here now and having another focus I’m so grateful for, and there’s obviously no bigger carrot than the World Cup.”

World Cup ambitions

Australia, regular qualifiers for the global finals, are seeking a deep tournament run. Heading into their seventh World Cup and sixth in succession, the goal is to match or exceed last-16 finishes. Devlin, who turned 28 a week before the opening match, believes that target is within reach.

“The mood has been really good and coming into camp is something that never gets old because it’s a moment of such immense joy and pride,” he said.