Fortier Qualifies for U17 World Cup: A Goal Achieved
St. Michael’s College School (SMCS) student Timothy Fortier ’26 and his Team Canada Under-17 squad have qualified for the World Cup.
“When I got the call from my coach, it felt awesome—it’s always a great honour to represent your country and help Canada compete for the World Cup,” says the Grade 11 student. “Initially, it was a relief; it was like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders. I told my mom first, as she was with me when I received the call, then the rest of my family shortly after.”
Earlier this month, Fortier traveled with the national team to Bermuda to compete in the 2025 Confederation of North, Central America, and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) U17 World Cup qualifiers. Thanks to a dominant performance, which included winning all four group games and outscoring their opponents by 26 goals, the team earned a spot in the World Cup, slated for November 2025 in Qatar.
In addition to being an honour roll student at SMCS, Fortier has also been a member of the school’s track and field and senior soccer teams.
“Tim was a formidable force on SMCS’ senior team. He combines agility with vision like a real professional,” says Marco Frattarelli, teacher and coach of the senior soccer team. “He’s the type of player you give freedom to on the pitch because he knows where he needs to go and what to do. And above all, he’s a real gentleman—on and off the pitch.”
Fortier grew up in competitive soccer, recently competing with Canada’s First Academy and Barca Academy Toronto before moving to Toronto FC Academy at age 13. He sees the opportunity to play at the national level as a chance to compete for his country with familiar faces—teammates and opponents he grew up with.
“I think working with players from different clubs and environments is really fun and beneficial for the team, as there are a lot of different cultures, which actually makes us stronger,” says Fortier. “We are a proud group, and our team chemistry is really good, with most of us having known each other prior to the national team or having played against each other at some point.”
As Fortier looks ahead to the competition, he knows the key to success will be his mindset. “The aspect I feel you need to focus on the most at the international stage is your mindset,” he emphasizes. “I also believe my strong technical quality on the ball will be an asset on the field and help our team win.”
In preparation for the World Cup in November, Fortier will continue to train with his club team while also participating in several preparation camps with Team Canada.
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