Former CPL Keeper Max Anchor Helps Belgium Prepare For World Cup

Less than a year ago, Surrey shotstopper Max Anchor was testing himself out on loan in the Canadian Premier League with Pacific FC.

Now, the 21-year-old Canadian is helping the Belgian national team train in Seattle, where players like Romelu Lukaku and Kevin De Bruyne provide a real litmus test for training keepers, to say the least.

It’s quite a moment in time for Anchor, who is the third-choice goalkeeper for Seattle Sounders. His closest first team appearance with the MLS side came in his only bench selection of the year, and now he’s training alongside the likes of Thibaut Courtois, Senne Lammens, and Mike Penders.

The Red Devils are currently training in Washington ahead of their group opener against Egypt on Monday.

The unlikely invitation comes as Belgium’s Maarten Vandevoordt found himself unavailable as his club RB Leipzig did not release him to be a training player with the squad.

Since Belgium boss Rudi Garcia likes to have an even number of four keepers in his sessions, bringing in the Canadian shotstopper is a fit that works well for both parties.

Anchor has just one Major League Soccer appearance to his name following his time with the Vancouver Whitecaps, and had been loaned to Pacific last season with the expectation of good minutes at the professional level.

After making ten appearances in the opening stanza of the season, however, the Surrey-born shotstopper went months without another appearance before the Whitecaps terminated his loan last September.

Seattle would later snap up the youngster through end-of-year waivers, penning a one-year deal that includes club options for an extension to June 2027 and potentially the 2027-2028 season as well.

Seattle has seen solid success with Canadian Premier League pedigree players, with Osaze De Rosario enjoying a fine rise stateside after having impressed in Canada’s top flight with Inter Toronto (then York United).

Now, it’s a pub trivia fact for the ages: Former Pacific goalkeeper Max Anchor can count himself as a Canadian participating in the 2026 World Cup, even if it isn’t for Canada – much like Haiti third-string Josue Duverger, who was born in Montreal.

The Canadian Premier League does have a former player on a current World Cup squad, with Chicago Fire defender Joel Waterman having taking his first professional steps with Cavalry FC.

Back on Canadian soil, the Canadian men’s national team is now one day away from opening its group stage action against Bosnia and Herzegovina in Toronto. Between the sticks, the Canadian spots are reserved for some more battle-tested Major League Soccer talent with Maxime Crepeau and Dayne St. Clair.

Header Image Photo Credit: Sheldon Mack