Jacob Shaffelburg

Jacob Shaffelburg
Shaffelburg with Canada in 2026
Personal information
Full name Jacob Everett Shaffelburg[1]
Date of birth (1999-11-26) November 26, 1999
Place of birth Kentville, Nova Scotia, Canada[2]
Height 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position Winger
Team information
Current team
 Los Angeles FC
Number 18
Youth career
Valley United SC
2012–2014 FC Nashville Heroes
2014 Sporting Kansas City
Manhattan SC
2016–2019 Toronto FC
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2017 Toronto FC III 1 (0)
2018 Black Rock FC 7 (8)
2019 Toronto FC II 15 (2)
2019–2022 Toronto FC 46 (3)
2021–2022 → Toronto FC II (loan) 2 (0)
2022 → Nashville SC (loan) 8 (2)
2023–2025 Nashville SC 74 (9)
2026– Los Angeles FC 12 (0)
International career‡
2020– Canada 36 (6)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of August 22, 2026
‡ National team caps and goals as of July 4, 2026

Jacob Everett Shaffelburg (born November 26, 1999) is a Canadian professional soccer player who plays as a winger for Major League Soccer club Los Angeles FC and the Canada national team.

Early life

Shaffelburg played youth soccer for Valley United SC and Team Nova Scotia.[3] In 2012, he joined FC Nashville Heroes, where he played in the 2012 U.S. Club Soccer National Cup.[4] In January 2014, he joined the Sporting Kansas City Academy, where he played for a month.[4] Shaffelburg demonstrated dominance in cross country running and track and field in his middle school years. He won the NSSAF junior boys 3000m in June 2014 with a spectacular sub 10 minute performance. College scouts still speculate what levels he could have reached if he stuck with running.

At age 15, he began attending high school in Massachusetts at the Berkshire School, where he played for their highly regarded soccer program.[5][6] He played an instrumental part in the team, scoring four goals in two games in the NEPSAC playoffs his senior year (2018), helping Berkshire win their fifth title in seven years[7] and he was named 2017–18 Gatorade Massachusetts Boys Soccer Player of the Year.[8][9] While in the US, he also played youth soccer with Manhattan SC where he won U.S. Club Soccer U-16 National Championship in 2016.[10]

He joined the Toronto FC Academy in 2016.[11] He appeared in a friendly for the HFX Wanderers FC Atlantic Selects team in 2018 against Fortuna Düsseldorf's U-21 team, where he scored a goal.[12] He had originally committed to the University of Virginia on a soccer scholarship, but ultimately decided to sign a professional contract instead.[13]

Club career

Toronto FC II

He played a game with Toronto FC III in League1 Ontario in 2017.[10]

Black Rock

In 2018, he played with Black Rock FC in the Premier Development League. He finished as the team's leading scorer with eight goals, tied with Ifunanyachi Achara.[14]

Toronto FC

In November 2018, he signed his first professional contract with Toronto FC II[10] and began the 2019 season with them in USL League One.[15]

Shaffelburg made his first appearance for Toronto FC in the 2019 CONCACAF Champions League on February 19, 2019, and then signed with Toronto FC as a Homegrown Player on June 21, 2019.[9] He made his first MLS appearance the following day, playing 31 minutes against FC Dallas in Frisco, Texas.[16] Four days later, on June 26, he had his first start for Toronto FC at BMO Field scoring an assist in a 3–2 win against Atlanta United FC,[17] setting up the fastest goal in TFC history only 29 seconds into the game.[18] Shaffelburg would quickly find himself in the starting lineup shortly after signing, earning rave reviews for his pace from the coaching staff.[19] Teammate Richie Laryea, who joined Toronto FC from Orlando City in 2019, has said that Shaffelburg's rise coincided with several senior players departing for Gold Cup duty that summer, opening a window for younger players to make an impression, and that Shaffelburg's pace and left foot stood out immediately.[20]

He scored his first goal in the 74th minute on May 15, 2021, in a 1–1 draw against New York City.[21] On September 3, he was loaned to Toronto FC II.[22] Upon completion of the 2021 season, Shaffelburg's option for the 2022 season would be picked up by Toronto.[23] He went on a short loan to the second team again in 2022.[24] Shaffelburg's playing time decreased significantly in 2022 following the arrivals of Italian wingers Lorenzo Insigne and Federico Bernardeschi; he has since said he was regularly left out of both squads in intra-squad training scrimmages during this period and doubted whether he would continue playing professionally, at points considering a move back to Nova Scotia to play for the Halifax Wanderers FC to be closer to his family.[25]

Nashville SC

Shaffelburg (in yellow) playing for Nashville SC 2023

In August 2022, Shaffelburg joined Nashville SC on loan for the remainder of the 2022 season, with an option for a permanent transfer in 2023.[26] He made his debut for Nashville on August 21 against FC Dallas and scored a goal in a 4–0 victory.[27] After the season, Nashville exercised the purchase option for the 2023 season and signed him to a four-year contract extension with a club option for 2027.[28][29] Shaffelburg has since described the move to Nashville as a turning point in his career, saying "Nashville saved my career."[30] At Nashville, his direct, high-intensity playing style earned him a following among Geodis Park supporters, who nicknamed his blond mullet the "Tennessee Waterslide."[31] During the 2024 CONCACAF Champions Cup round of 16, Shaffelburg scored twice in a match against Inter Miami that featured Lionel Messi, Luis Suárez, and Sergio Busquets.[32]

Los Angeles FC

On December 29, 2025, Shaffelburg was acquired by Los Angeles FC from Nashville SC for $1,000,000 in General Allocation Money (GAM).[33][34]

International career

Shaffelburg with Canada at the 2026 FIFA World Cup

Youth

Shaffelburg was named to the Canadian U-23 provisional roster for the 2020 CONCACAF Men's Olympic Qualifying Championship on February 26, 2020.[35]

Senior

Shaffelburg received his first senior international call-up to Canada on January 3, 2020, for matches against Barbados and Iceland.[36] On January 10, 2020, he made his debut as a substitute against Barbados.[37]

In June 2023, Shaffelburg was called up to Canada's squad for the 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup.[38] On July 9 he scored his first goal for Canada during the quarter-finals of the tournament against the United States. The match ended in a 2–2 draw, though Canada lost 3–2 in the ensuing penalty shoot-out.[39]

In June 2024, Shaffelburg was named in Canada's 26-man roster for the 2024 Copa América.[40] In the tournament opener, Shaffelburg troubled Argentina's back line for extended stretches of the match without scoring.[41] In Canada's second group match of the tournament, he assisted Jonathan David, who scored Canada's first ever goal at the tournament in a 1–0 victory over Peru; this was Canada's first ever win in the competition.[42] In their quarter-final victory against Venezuela, he scored for Canada in a 1–1 draw, converting on his weaker right foot after David drew defenders and squared the ball to him; the goal, and his tournament performance broadly, earned Shaffelburg the nickname "Maritime Messi".[43][44][45] Canada was defeated in the semi-final against Argentina.

Following the appointment of Jesse Marsch as Canada's head coach in May 2024, Shaffelburg became a regular starter under the new manager, who has described him as a "big part of what we do" and praised his willingness to "wear his heart on his sleeve."[46] In September 2025, he scored the opening goal in a 2–1 win over the United States at Children's Mercy Park, Canada's first victory over the U.S. men's national team on American soil since 1957, and later scored twice against Suriname in a CONCACAF Nations League quarter-final.[47]

At the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup quarter-finals, Shaffelburg was sent off for a second yellow card in the first half of a match against Guatemala after a collision with defender Stheven Robles, having earlier given Canada a 1–0 lead; Canada, reduced to ten men, was eliminated after Guatemala equalized and won the ensuing penalty shoot-out.[48] It was the first red card of Shaffelburg's career, and he has since called it "the lowest point" of his career.[49]

In May 2026, Shaffelburg was selected for Canada's squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.[50]

Personal life

Shaffelburg was born in Kentville, Nova Scotia, but grew up in the nearby village of Port Williams, home to about 1,100 people, and is the youngest of three siblings; his sister, Jessica, played college soccer for Jacksonville University, and his brother, Zach, played for Acadia University before becoming a rheumatologist in Lunenburg.[51] He has been nicknamed Maritime Messi.[52] He and his wife, Robyne, have two children, daughter Daisy and son Baker; Shaffelburg has described becoming a father as a "surreal" change for the better.[53]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played August 22, 2026[54]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup[a] Continental Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Toronto FC III 2017[55] League1 Ontario 10———10
Black Rock FC 2018[56] PDL 78———78
Toronto FC II 2019 USL League One 152———152
Toronto FC 2019 Major League Soccer 100201[b]0—130
2020 4[c]0——1[d]050
2021 193314[b]0—264
2022 1303[e]0——160
Total 463815010604
Nashville SC (loan) 2022 Major League Soccer 82——1[f]092
Nashville SC 2023 28330—8[g]1394
2024 232—4[b]32[h]0296
2025 23430—3[f]0294
Nashville total 8211604314110615
Los Angeles FC 2026 Major League Soccer 120—4[b]03[h]0190
Career total 1632414113318120829
  1. ↑ Includes Canadian Championship, U.S. Open Cup
  2. 1 2 3 4 Appearance(s) in CONCACAF Champions League/Cup
  3. ↑ Includes two appearances in MLS is Back Tournament group stage
  4. ↑ Appearance in MLS is Back Tournament knockout stage
  5. ↑ Includes appearance in 2020 Canadian Championship final (played in 2022)
  6. 1 2 Appearance(s) in MLS Cup playoffs
  7. ↑ Six appearances and one goal in Leagues Cup, two appearances in MLS Cup playoffs
  8. 1 2 Appearances in Leagues Cup

International

As of match played July 4, 2026[57]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Canada 202010
202120
202210
202331
2024135
2025110
202650
Total366

Scores and results list Canada's goal tally first.[57]

List of international goals scored by Jacob Shaffelburg
No. Date Venue Cap Opponent Score Result Competition
1July 9, 2023TQL Stadium, Cincinnati, United States7 United States2–12–2 (2–3 p) 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup
2March 23, 2024Toyota Stadium, Frisco, United States8 Trinidad and Tobago2–02–02024 Copa América qualifying play-offs
3July 5, 2024AT&T Stadium, Arlington, United States14 Venezuela1–01–1 (4–3 p)2024 Copa América
4September 7, 2024Children's Mercy Park, Kansas City, United States17 United States1–02–1Friendly
519 November 2024BMO Field, Toronto, Canada20 Suriname2–03–02024-25 CONCACAF Nations League
63–0

Honours

Toronto FC

Nashville SC

Individual

References

  1. ↑ "National Team Roster 2021 Concacaf Gold Cup" (PDF). CONCACAF.
  2. ↑ Jacob Shaffelburg at Canada Soccer
  3. ↑ Thompson, Ashley (August 11, 2018). "Living the Dream: 'He has his eyes set on mastery'". SaltWire Network. Retrieved August 10, 2019.
  4. 1 2 Hills, Drake (September 13, 2022). "He scores goals for Nashville SC — but his connection to the city dates back 10 years". The Tennessean. Retrieved May 4, 2026.
  5. ↑ Sigal, Jonathan (June 21, 2019). "Toronto FC sign forward Jacob Shaffelburg to Homegrown Player deal". Major League Soccer. Retrieved June 21, 2019.
  6. ↑ Palmeter, Paul (October 29, 2021). "Nova Scotia's Shaffelburg gains valuable experience with Toronto FC, Team Canada". CBC.
  7. ↑ Hayes, Michael (November 19, 2018). "Bears Capture Fifth Soccer Title With 3–1 Win Over Worcester Academy". Berkshire School. Retrieved April 6, 2020.
  8. ↑ Giannis, Maniatis (March 12, 2025). "livescore". Retrieved May 4, 2026.
  9. 1 2 "Port Williams' Shaffelburg signs first-team deal with Toronto FC". The Chronicle Herald. Halifax, Nova Scotia. June 21, 2019. Retrieved June 29, 2019.
  10. 1 2 3 "Toronto FC II sign Jacob Shaffelburg". Toronto FC. November 28, 2018. Retrieved May 22, 2020.
  11. ↑ "Jacob Shaffelburg Toronto FC Profile". Toronto FC. Retrieved May 4, 2026.
  12. ↑ Palov, Willy (July 28, 2018). "Wanderers win shootout thriller over Fortuna Dusseldorf". The Chronicle Herald. Archived from the original on July 29, 2018. Retrieved July 28, 2018.
  13. ↑ Grossi, James (November 28, 2018). "TFC II add Shaffelburg ahead of 2019 USL League One season". Waking The Red. Archived from the original on December 4, 2021. Retrieved May 22, 2020.
  14. ↑ Smith, Geoff (July 10, 2018). "Black Rock FC wins PDL Northeast Division title in first season". Berkshire Eagle. Bennington Banner. Retrieved May 22, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  15. ↑ Palov, Willy (August 1, 2019). "Shaffelburg on soccer fast track with Toronto FC". The Chronicle Herald. Retrieved August 2, 2019.
  16. ↑ Buffery, Steve (June 23, 2019). "Jacob Shaffelburg climbs the ladder and gets his first taste of MLS action". Toronto Sun. Retrieved June 29, 2019.
  17. ↑ Wharnsby, Tim (June 28, 2019). "Nova Scotia teen Jacob Shaffelburg impresses in starting debut for TFC". Toronto Star. pp. S6. Retrieved June 29, 2019.
  18. ↑ Wharnsby, Tim (June 26, 2019). "Toronto FC over Atlanta in a wild ride of late penalty kicks and record fast goals". The Globe and Mail. Toronto. The Canadian Press. Retrieved June 29, 2019.
  19. ↑ Davidson, Neil (August 2, 2019). "Teenage winger Jacob Shaffelburg rapidly making his name at Toronto FC". Toronto Star. Retrieved August 2, 2019.
  20. ↑ "BELIEF". Darby. No. 5. Darby Magazine. 2025. Retrieved July 29, 2026.
  21. ↑ "Shaffelburg's goal pulls Toronto into 1–1 draw with NYCFC". Toronto Star. May 15, 2021. Retrieved May 4, 2026.
  22. ↑ "Toronto FC loan Jacob Shaffelburg to Toronto FC II". Toronto FC. September 3, 2021. Retrieved May 4, 2026.
  23. ↑ "Toronto FC Announce Year-End Roster Decisions". Toronto FC. December 1, 2021. Retrieved May 4, 2026.
  24. ↑ "Toronto FC loan Jacob Shaffelburg to Toronto FC II". Toronto FC. July 3, 2022. Retrieved May 4, 2026.
  25. ↑ "BELIEF". Darby. No. 5. Darby Magazine. 2025. Retrieved July 29, 2026.
  26. ↑ "Toronto FC send Jacob Shaffelburg on loan to Nashville SC for GAM". Toronto FC. August 2, 2022. Retrieved May 4, 2026.
  27. ↑ Hunte, Sydney (August 22, 2022). "Nashville SC's playoff hopes get "shot in the arm" with lopsided win over FC Dallas". Major League Soccer. Retrieved May 4, 2026.
  28. ↑ "Toronto FC receive GAM in exchange for Jacob Shaffelburg". Toronto FC. November 16, 2022. Retrieved May 4, 2026.
  29. ↑ Jacques, John (November 16, 2022). "Official: Shaffelburg Inks Four-Year Deal With Nashville". Northern Tribune. Retrieved May 4, 2026.
  30. ↑ "BELIEF". Darby. No. 5. Darby Magazine. 2025. Retrieved July 29, 2026.
  31. ↑ "BELIEF". Darby. No. 5. Darby Magazine. 2025. Retrieved July 29, 2026.
  32. ↑ "BELIEF". Darby. No. 5. Darby Magazine. 2025. Retrieved July 29, 2026.
  33. ↑ "LAFC Acquires Forward Jacob Shaffelburg from Nashville SC". LAFC. December 29, 2025. Retrieved May 4, 2026.
  34. ↑ "Canada winger Shaffelburg dealt to LAFC". LAFC. December 29, 2025. Retrieved May 4, 2026.
  35. ↑ "Canada Soccer announces Provisional List for Concacaf Men's Olympic Qualifying". Canada Soccer. February 26, 2020. Archived from the original on March 9, 2020. Retrieved February 26, 2020.
  36. ↑ "Canada Soccer's Men's National Team holds January camp". Canada Soccer. January 3, 2020. Archived from the original on January 3, 2020. Retrieved January 3, 2020.
  37. ↑ "Canadian men's soccer comfortably dispatches Barbados in friendly rematch". CBC Sports. January 10, 2020. Retrieved January 10, 2020.
  38. ↑ "GOLD CUP ROSTER: Shaffelburg, Ahmed, McGraw bring new look to CanMNT". OneSoccer. June 19, 2023. Retrieved May 4, 2026.
  39. ↑ O'Connor-Clarke, Charlie (July 10, 2023). "Match Analysis: CanMNT heartbroken in Gold Cup QF penalty shootout vs. USA". Canadian Premier League. Retrieved May 4, 2026.
  40. ↑ "CANMNT ANNOUNCE 2024 COPA AMÉRICA ROSTER". Canadian Soccer Association. June 15, 2024. Retrieved May 4, 2026.
  41. ↑ "BELIEF". Darby. No. 5. Darby Magazine. 2025. Retrieved July 29, 2026.
  42. ↑ "Jonathan David lifts Canada over Peru for 1st-ever win at Copa America". CBC Sports. June 25, 2024. Retrieved June 26, 2024.
  43. ↑ Kloke, Joshua; Anzidei, Melanie; Rueter, Jeff (July 10, 2024). "Canada wins penalty shootout against Venezuela, faces rematch with Argentina in Copa America semifinal". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved May 4, 2026.
  44. ↑ "Maritime Messi turning heads for Team Canada at Copa America". cbc.ca. June 29, 2024. Retrieved May 4, 2026.
  45. ↑ "BELIEF". Darby. No. 5. Darby Magazine. 2025. Retrieved July 29, 2026.
  46. ↑ "BELIEF". Darby. No. 5. Darby Magazine. 2025. Retrieved July 29, 2026.
  47. ↑ "BELIEF". Darby. No. 5. Darby Magazine. 2025. Retrieved July 29, 2026.
  48. ↑ "BELIEF". Darby. No. 5. Darby Magazine. 2025. Retrieved July 29, 2026.
  49. ↑ "BELIEF". Darby. No. 5. Darby Magazine. 2025. Retrieved July 29, 2026.
  50. ↑ "Davies spearheads Canada squad". May 28, 2026. Retrieved June 12, 2026.
  51. ↑ "BELIEF". Darby. No. 5. Darby Magazine. 2025. Retrieved July 29, 2026.
  52. ↑ "Maritime Messi turning heads for Team Canada at Copa America". cbc.ca. June 29, 2024. Retrieved May 4, 2026.
  53. ↑ "BELIEF". Darby. No. 5. Darby Magazine. 2025. Retrieved July 29, 2026.
  54. ↑ Jacob Shaffelburg at Soccerway
  55. ↑ "TFCIII Statistics". League1 Ontario. Archived from the original on August 11, 2017. Retrieved May 22, 2020.
  56. ↑ "Black Rock FC – Jacob Shaffelburg Stats". USL League Two. Retrieved May 22, 2020.
  57. 1 2 Jacob Shaffelburg at National-Football-Teams.com
  58. ↑ "At last, Toronto FC capture 2020 Canadian Championship over Forge FC". Major League Soccer. June 4, 2022. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  59. ↑ "CHAMPIONS! Nashville SC win US Open Cup over Austin FC". Major League Soccer. October 1, 2025. Retrieved October 1, 2025.
  60. ↑ "L'Impact de Montréal remporte le Championnat canadien" [Montreal Impact wins the Canadian Championship]. Retrieved November 28, 2021.
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