It's indescribable how good it feels to line up and sing the anthem representing the Canada national team.
I did it in the U17 World Cup last year, and I can't wait to have that feeling again when we go up against Finland on Friday night.
Last week, I was called up to the Canada U18 national team roster for a preparation camp in Finland, to begin preparing for the 2027 FIFA U-20 World Cup.
After playing Finland, we take on Switzerland on Sunday and I'm joined here by my Vancouver FC teammate Emrick Fotsing, as well as the club's director of football operations Jeevin Kang – who is the tour manager.
We're all sharing that incredible feeling, which is so cool and important for the club as they are always looking to create that professional pathway for home-grown talent to develop into national team players.
Finding out was a pretty quick process.
Originally I wasn't on the roster for the squad, so I was disappointed at first, but obviously just went about my regular day-to-day with the club. But then I got the call, and was told I needed to leave a day later.
So yeah, it all happened really fast, but at the end of the day, I'm so super proud and happy to be back representing Canada again.
Me and Emrick flew out together from Vancouver on the Friday evening.
We had a layover in Amsterdam, and then from there went straight to Helsinki.
Life at national team camp is pretty intense to be honest, with busy, busy days.
Everyone here is quite new to the national team system, so there's a lot of focus on us all getting to know each other and team bonding.
There's a lot that goes into that, in the scheduling and the field sessions and there's lots of meetings. It's a lot of information coming fast, but that's how it is with a national team – coming from your club, you need to adapt and learn new information or change some of your normal habits.
But, you know you have to do that stuff if we're going to really become a team, so everyone needs to get out of their comfort zone and hang out and get to know each other. And I feel like that translates a lot onto the field with the team chemistry.
I'm rooming with Carter Tavares Roache who is from Toronto, but plays with Italian club Perugia Spring. Having so many good players and good quality around you, it definitely brings the level up, and not just the physical side during training sessions, and the technical side, but also the mental.
And, I feel that would bring out the best in any player, including myself.
But, if I was asked what's the most important element of an international camp – from the ones I've been on so far – I'd say having fun.
At the end of the day, when you're stepping on the field you're having to step on as brothers and having to sacrifice for each other. So if you're not able to have fun with the people off the field, then on the field, it'll be really tough to have those same feelings.
I've been told a lot of the research that goes into the call-ups is about how the players are off the field, so it is really important and definitely helps when everyone's really friendly and thinking in the same way as we're all building a core for the under-20 World Cup.
Earlier this year, I was invited to represent Ghana in the U-20 African Cup of Nations, which is where my Dad is from. And I'm so proud of my connections to both nations. But, as it usually is in my life, I go day by day and I was honoured to be called into this Canada squad and to represent Vancouver FC, Maple Ridge, and Canada again.
My club, where I come from, my family - I'll be thinking of all of it as I stand for the national anthem this week.
– Taryck Jordan Tahid, 18, is a Maple Ridge local playing midfield for Vancouver FC soccer team, who is writing a regular column through to the end of the season. In 2023 he became the youngest player to sign and appear in a CPL match at 16, and then the youngest goal-scorer in league history. He played for Canada in the U17 World Cup, and has since represented Ghana in the U20 African Cup of Nations. Watch for his weekly feature online.
