Team Canada’s WAGs: As World Cup continues in Qatar, meet the soccer player’s girlfriends and wives

Team Canada is preparing to face off against Belgium during its first game at the 2022 FIFA World Cup today, and many of the soccer players’ WAGs will likely be cheering them on from the front row.

The World Cup kicked off on Sunday in Qatar, and it will see 32 countries compete in a series of matches to determine who will bring home the coveted trophy at the final on December 18.

Each country picks their absolute best soccer players to play in the tournament, and this year’s Canadian team is filled with top notch athletes who have all earned their own impressive accomplishments. 

In addition to their accolades on the field, many of Team Canada‘s members have taken strides in their love lives too – and their stunning partners will be supporting them every step of the way.

But who exactly are the women behind the sports stars? As the World Cup begins, FEMAIL has taken a look into the Canada team’s very glamorous wives and girlfriends.

While some of the women are super private and do their best to stay out of the spotlight, others often flaunt the lavish perks that come with dating a famous soccer player – which includes taking many luxury vacations around the globe, staying in five-star resorts, eating in upscale restaurants, attending elite parties, and of course, sitting sideline at their beau’s games.

From their own careers and accomplishments to how they met their sports star boyfriends and details on their relationship, here’s everything you need to know about the WAGs of Team Canada’s soccer players in preparation for its first match in the World Cup. 

Milan Borjan and Snežana Filipović

Milan Borjan, 35, who is originally from from Yugoslavia but emigrated to Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada in 2000, signed with the Serbian club FK Rad in 2009. 

He then joined the Turkish team Sivasspor in 2011, before transferring to Bulgaria’s PFC Ludogorets Razgrad in 2014. In 2017, he headed back to Serbia when he was signed to Red Star Belgrade, and now, he is playing goalkeeper for the Canadian team at the World Cup.

He is married to a Serbian woman named Snežana Filipović. Snežana also has a background in soccer, as she is the former marketing director of the soccer club FK Partizan. In addition, her brother, Nenad Filipović, is a well-known soccer player.

She is also the owner of a resort in Serbia, called Monument Zlatibor. She and Milan started the company GK82 together, where the athlete trains young, aspiring soccer players.

‘Milan Borjan has decided to pass on his many years of international and domestic experience as a goalkeeper to new young generations,’ its website reads.

‘I am sure that, with the help of experienced goalkeeping experts, he can introduce children to the subject of goalkeeping, as well as teach them goalkeeping techniques of positioning in the goal, movement, and all the basic methods of goalkeeping.’ 

The couple tied the knot in January 2016, and they welcomed a son, who they named Filip, in November of that year.

They often post adorable, PDA-filled pictures together to each of their Instagram accounts. In the caption of one post, Milan called Snežana his ‘queen,’ and in another, he said he ‘owes her everything.’

‘Family, where life begins and love never end,’ he wrote alongside a sweet shot of him, Snežana, and Flip together on vacation in Turkey last summer.

‘Love that has no boundaries. Thank you for being my biggest support, my love that writes the most beautiful chapter of my life,’ the soccer star gushed in another post from September 2021.

James Pantemis and Nektaria Karambelas

James Pantemis, 25, from Kirkland, Quebec, Canada, joined FC Montreal in 2016, before switching to Montreal Impact one year later. He is now playing goalkeeper for Canada’s team at the World Cup.

He is currently dating a woman named Nektaria Karambelas, who according to her LinkedIn, works as a production manager at the Canadian luxury jewelry brand Katherine Karambelas.

They first got together in November 2017, and they recently celebrated their five-year anniversary.

‘Hey @JamesPantemis, let’s do five more. Happy anni to us,’ she gushed at the time. 

In honor of the anniversary last year, she also posted a touching tribute, writing, ‘How has it only been four years? Feels like forever. Happy anniversary, my [heart]! I love you with everything I got.’

Alistair Johnston and Peyton Pesavento

Alistair Johnston, 24, from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, joined Nashville SC in 2020, where he played for one year – before switching to CF Montreal one year later. He is now a defender for Team Canada at the World Cup.

His girlfriend, Peyton Pesavento, is also an athlete, and she played tennis for Wake Forest University in North Carolina. She graduated from the school with a degree in Health and Exercise Science earlier this year.

Per her LinkedIn profile, she worked as a private tennis instructor during her time at Wake Forest, and she is now a Virtual Care Facilitator at BICMD. In addition, she is a talented artist and sells her paintings through her business, called Peyton’s Palette.

While she and Alistair are pretty private about their romance, they have given their followers a look into their romance on a few rare occasions.

Back in January 2020, Alistair posted their first picture together, which he captioned, ‘Green card.’ Then, in honor of the New Year in January 2021, he shared a sweet collage of various photos of his girlfriend, writing, ‘Ready for more moments like these in 2021.’

In September 2021, she posted a snap of herself watching Alistair play soccer, while calling it her ‘favorite pastime.’

The couple also jetted off to Mexico together last December, which Peyton called a ‘dream vacation.’

Richie Laryea and Melanie Pace

Richmond ‘Richie’ Laryea, 27, from Toronto, Ontario, Canada, started his career off at Orlando City in 2016. He then moved to Toronto FC in 2019, before he was transferred to the England team Nottingham Forest in January of this year. He is currently playing defender for the Canada team at the World Cup.

Richie started dating his now-wife, Melanie Pace, all the way back in 2012. After a decade together, the pair officially tied the knot earlier this year. 

Together, they welcomed a baby boy, named Elijah Zae Laryea, in February 2019. 

Throughout their 10-year romance, Richie and Melanie have posted many cute photos together to their social media accounts, and Melanie, who works as a stylist, is often seen supporting her beau at his games.

‘A very happy birthday to my beautiful woman right here! Been nothing but positives with you and can’t wait for what’s next,’ the Nottingham Forest player gushed on Instagram in honor of Melanie’s birthday back in 2018.

And when it rolled around this year, he shared another heartfelt message to his wife, writing, ‘I love you. Happy birthday to my favorite person and my better half! Our backbone for life, you mean the world to us!’

A self-proclaimed ‘fashion expert,’ Melanie has styled an array of celebrities like Lexi Thompson, Giuliana Rancic, Lacey Owen, Jim Gaffigan, and Sandra Gal.

She graduated from Florida State University with a degree in Fashion Merchandising and Business. She also runs a popular blog in which she covers ‘a multitude of topics such as fitness, beauty, travel, and interior design.’

Kamal Miller and Sheridan Street

Kamal Miller, 25, from Scarborough, Ontario, Canada, played for Orlando City from 2019 to 2020, before he was transferred to Montreal Impact. He is now playing defender for Team Canada at the World Cup.

He is currently dating a woman named Sheridan Street. While it’s unclear when exactly they started dating, she first popped up on his Instagram feed in December 2018, when he posted a slew of pictures in honor of the year coming to an end.

‘2018 planted the most beautiful seeds,’ he captioned it. ‘2019 will bear the most beautiful fruit.’ 

The two are pretty private when it comes to their romance, but she did share a few snaps with Kamal back in March, after he was asked to join Canada’s World Cup team.

‘World cup bound,’ she captioned the photos, which showed her hugging and kissing the athlete while wearing his jersey.

In addition, he also gave her a shoutout on her 26th birthday in April, while posting a photo that showed them holding hands. ’26. Happy birthday baby girl,’ he captioned it. 

Joel Waterman and Carli Grosso 

Joel Waterman, 26, from Langley, British Columbia, Canada, was drafted by Calvary FC in 2018. He was transferred to Montreal Impact in 2020, and now, he is playing defender for Canada’s team at the World Cup.

He is currently in a relationship with Carli Grosso, a former NCAA athlete who helped Team Canada win a soccer gold medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Carli graduated from Simon Fraser University, where she majored in Kinesiology while also becoming one of the college’s star soccer players.

She is now studying Physical Therapy for her masters at University of Toronto, where she is set to graduate from next year.

Based on their Instagram posts, she and Joel appear to have started dating in early 2021, and they couldn’t be cuter together.

‘Happy birthday baby. Excited to keep doing life together,’ he gushed back in October.

Stephen Eustaquio and Constanca Damiao

Stephen Eustaquio, 25, from Leamington, Canada, signed with the Portuguese club Leixões in 2017. One year later, he was transferred to the Portugal team Chaves, before he moved to Mexico’s Cruz Azul in 2019.

Earlier this year, he signed a five-year contract with Portuguese team Porto. He is now playing midfielder for Canada’s team at the World Cup.

He and his girlfriend, Constanca Damiao, seem like total couple goals. They started dating in 2018, and are often posting the cutest photos together online.

‘I am very proud of you, your way of thinking, your strength and drive, your humble way of always wanting to learn and your willingness to be more and better in everything,’ she wrote in a post commemorating their eight-month anniversary back in January 2019.

‘I’ve been with you since the first day and in very difficult moments throughout the process and I’m still here, always.’

And in honor of Stephen’s birthday that December, she shared another gushing tribute to her soccer player beau.

‘I’m so grateful to be by your side for another birthday and day after day… There aren’t many people like you in this world, you deserve the best,’ she wrote. ‘May we always be like this… Peace in the head and lots of love in the heart. I love you.’

Fashion designer Constanca launched her own clothing brand, called Coudie, last year. It specializes in ‘comfort, quality, versatility, transparency, and empowerment,’ according to its website.

‘It arose from the desire to create exclusive collections, which mix a classic and minimalist style – less is more – with irreverent basics, with different textures and patterns that make the difference,’ a description of the brand reads. 

‘We prioritize the versatility, quality and comfort of our models, so that they uniquely fit the different bodies of each of us. 

‘Our pieces are produced in limited quantities – slow fashion – with the possibility of ordering any size (as long as there is fabric), in order to guarantee a sustainable business, with as little waste as possible.’

Atiba Hutchinson and Sarah Hutchinson

Atiba Hutchinson, 39, from Brampton, Ontario, Canada, joined Sweden’s Östers IF in 2003. One year later, he transferred to Helsingborgs IF, before moving to Denmark’s F.C. Copenhagen.

In 2010, he signed with the Dutch team PSV Eindhoven. He then joined the Turkish team Beşiktaş in 2013, where he’s played ever since. He is now playing midfielder for Team Canada at the World Cup.

He met his wife, Sarah Hutchinson, while playing in Denmark, and they got married in 2014. They welcomed three sons over the years, named Noah, born in 2015, Nava, born in 2016, and Ayo Siyah, born in 2017. 

The couple reside in Turkey together, and while Canada is still Atiba’s home in his heart, he revealed in a previous interview that they have no plans to ever leave.

‘I raised my kids here, my kids are born here, my wife loves it here – it’s kind of like a home away from home,’ he said. ‘This is my ninth season now [for Beşiktaş], so it’s been a while, but it’s gone really quickly. I’ve really enjoyed a lot of it.’

Sarah and their three kids often attend Atiba’s games to show their support, and he often refers to his family as his ‘squad’ on Instagram. 

Mark-Anthony Kaye and Rachel Kirchhoff

Mark-Anthony Kaye, 27, from Toronto, Ontario, Canada, joined Toronto FC II in 2015, where he played for one year before switching to Louisville City FC. 

He also played for Los Angeles FC and Colorado Rapids over the years, before he rejoined Toronto FC in July 2022. Now, he is playing midfielder for Canada’s team at the World Cup.

He is currently engaged to a model named Rachel Kirchhoff. It’s unclear when exactly the two started dating, but he proposed to the blonde beauty in November 2020, popping the question on the roof of the Ace Hotel in downtown Los Angeles, with a stunning view of the city in the background.

Throughout 2021, the two took some major steps in their relationship. The couple purchased a house together, and they also adopted an adorable dog named Nala.

‘2021 has been a year of ups, downs, home ownership, location changes, a new puppy and a new team,’ Mark-Anthony wrote on Instagram in December of last year. ‘But we leaving it on top! Blessings to everyone and Happy New Year! 2022 about to be a movie.’

To finish the year off, the couple jetted off to Jamaica together, where it looked like they had an amazing time.

Rachel is signed with Scout Model Agency, and has posed for brands like Slate Swim and San Lorenzo Bikinis. In addition to modeling, she also works as a real estate agent for Sotheby’s International Realty.

Liam Millar and Daniela Paniccia

Liam Miller, 23, from Toronto, Ontario, Canada, started his career off at North Mississauga SC before he joined the UK team Liverpool in 2016. 

He was then transferred to the Swiss team Basel in 2021, where he will remain until at least 2025. He is now playing midfielder for Team Canada at the World Cup.

He and his wife, Daniela Paniccia, first met when they were just 10 years old. They tied the knot in early 2020, and welcomed a daughter, named Reina, together in August of that year. 

Daniela is a former hockey player, who played for Penn State until she graduated from in 2020.

‘Happy 22nd birthday to my better half! I am truly grateful to have someone like you in my life!’ Liam gushed back in December 2019, in honor of Daniela’s birthday.

‘Thank you for supporting me through everything and being the most amazing person ever. I knew from when I was 10 years old you were special and the one for me! I love you so much hope you have the best day.’

And in honor of Liam’s 21st birthday in September 2020, Daniela shared a sweet tribute to her beau.

‘Thank you so much for all that you do. I wouldn’t have been able to get through this year without you – that’s for sure,’ she wrote.

‘You’ve come to be the best husband and father and never fail to put a smile on our faces. You make everyday brighter. I am so proud of everything you have and continue to accomplish, and can’t wait to keep doing life with you.’ 

She is often seen supporting the sports star at his games, and when it was announced that he’d be joining Team Canada back in March, she made sure to congratulate him.

‘Proud is an understatement,’ she said. ‘Qatar here we come!’ 

Samuel Piette and Chloe Vaillant

Samuel Piette, 28, from Le Gardeur, Quebec, Canada, played for the German team Fortuna Düsseldorf II before he moved to Spain’s Deportivo de La Coruña in 2014. 

He then signed with the Spanish club CD Izarra, before he headed back to Canada in 2017 to play for Montreal Impact. He is now playing midfielder for Canada’s team at the World Cup.

He is currently gearing up to marry his longtime girlfriend, Chloe Vaillant. Together, they share a son named Romi Piette, who was born on August 28, 2020.

He announced their engagement via Instagram back in September, writing at the time, ‘The best thing to hold onto in life is each other,’ alongside some pictures that showed him kneeling on one knee while Chloe covered her mouth in surprise.

Chloe is very private so it is unfortunately unclear what she does for work. 

Tajon Buchanan and Charlie Bath

Tajon Buchanan, 23, from Brampton, Ontario, Canada, was drafted by New England Revolution in 2019. He then signed a three-year contract with Belgian’s Club Brugge in 2021. He is now playing forward for Canada’s team at the World Cup.

He’s currently in a relationship with a woman named Charlie Bath, a University of Connecticut graduate. 

The two first went public with their romance in October 2021, when she posted a series of pictures with Tajon that she captioned, ‘I like you more than NYC pizza.’ 

A few months later, in December of that year, she shared an adorable set of pictures with the soccer player while gushing about how ‘lucky’ she was to have him and congratulating him on his transfer to Belgium.

‘Belgium is lucky to have you, but so am I. I can’t wait to watch you make your dreams come true,’ she wrote. ‘Good luck in Belgium and I’ll see you soon.’ 

Then, when it was announced that he was heading to the World Cup back in March, she commemorated her boyfriend in another sweet post.

‘World Cup Qatar here you come!’ she said. ‘Proud of you.’ 

The couple have taken a few lavish vacations together in the year that they’ve been together, including to Amsterdam and Jamaica.