As the 2026 FIFA World Cup draws nearer, the tournament is already generating excitement beyond the usual fanfare, with former Wake Forest players marking a new chapter for the program.
From College Success to International Duty
Mark McKenzie, born in the Bronx before moving to Bear, Delaware, honed his craft at the Philadelphia Union Academy before arriving in Winston‑Salem. At Wake Forest he featured in 16 matches during the 2017 season, helping the team capture the ACC Championship with an unbeaten conference run.
Now based in France with Toulouse FC of Ligue 1, McKenzie earned his first senior cap for the United States in a 2020 friendly against Costa Rica. He will soon join a U.S. squad placed in Group D alongside Turkey, Paraguay and Australia.
Alistair Johnston, a native of Vancouver who later lived in Ontario and Quebec, also climbed through the Canadian youth ranks before starring for Nashville SC and CF Montréal. His move to Celtic FC in Scotland has yielded over 100 appearances and four straight Scottish Premiership titles.
Johnston’s international résumé includes 44 caps since 2021 and a second World Cup appearance, with Canada entered into Group B with Bosnia and Herzegovina, Qatar and Switzerland.
The twin presence of McKenzie and Johnston underscores Wake Forest’s reputation as a pipeline for professional talent, a trend that began with the 2017 championship squad and continues to attract top‑level competition.
Fans will watch closely as the two alumni test their skills against world powers, hoping to add new chapters to a program that has long punched above its size in collegiate soccer.