Promise David, whose football journey briefly took him to Malta, is making waves in Belgium and has now set his sights on representing Canada at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The 23-year-old forward, born in Ontario to Nigerian parents, initially chose to represent Nigeria at youth level, earning two caps with their U-23 squad. The Nigerian FA had reportedly attempted to persuade him to commit to the senior team, but discussions stalled over time.
Now, David appears ready to take a different path. According to The Athletic, he had decided to switch to Canada, believing he has a stronger chance of featuring in the upcoming World Cup, which will be co-hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the USA.
His switch of allegiance became official on Friday, with FIFA’s Change of Association platform confirming the move.
Canada has been on a rapid rise in international football, having qualified for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and establishing itself as a growing force on the global stage.
David’s career saw him play in Malta between 2021 and 2022, representing Valletta and Sirens.
During his time with Valletta, he made 14 appearances, contributing four goals and four assists. Notably, two of his goals proved crucial in Valletta’s run to the 2022 FA Trophy final. He scored in the quarter-final against Marsaxlokk before netting the decisive goal in a semi-final victory over Sta. Lucia.
Read: Promise strikes as Valletta edge Sta Lucia to reach FA Trophy final.
After a short stint with Sirens in the 2022-23 season, where he struggled for playing time, David moved to Estonia in January 2023. There, he found his footing with Kalju FC, delivering impressive performances at the U-21 level before earning promotion to the first team, where he scored 29 goals in 44 matches.
Read: Canadian forward David Promise moves to Sirens on a two-year deal.
David’s prolific form in Estonia earned him a move to Belgian side Union SG, the former club of Malta international Teddy Teuma. He has hit the ground running in Belgium, tallying 13 goals and 3 assists in 27 appearances.
His latest goal came on a big stage, converting a penalty against Ajax in the UEFA Europa League play-offs, though Union SG was ultimately eliminated in a penalty shootout.
Now, as his club career continues to soar, David is ready to make his mark on the international stage, with Canada offering him the opportunity to play on football’s biggest platform in 2026.
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