‘Captain Canada’ Atiba Hutchinson recounts journey to World Cup from Brampton in new memoir

Going from playing in Brampton to taking on the best soccer players in the world wasn’t an easy road for Brampton’s Atiba Hutchinson to walk, a journey he’s sharing publicly for the first time in his new book.

From scoring the goal that sent Canada to the 2022 World Cup to crushing injuries, Hutchinson’s memoir The Beautiful Dream was released last month and tells the soccer star’s inspiring story of growing up in Brampton to playing on the world stage.

He’s the most-capped player to ever play the game for Canada’s national men’s team, earning him the nickname “Captain Canada.”

Hutchinson’s been proud of his Brampton roots and pushed the city to open the city’s first fully-lit boxed soccer court which opened this year and the soccer star hosted a book signing at the court on Tuesday, meeting with youth to inspire the next generation of soccer players in Brampton.

“Atiba’s journey of hope, belief, and resilience connects the country’s modest soccer past to a bold, exciting future in the game,” the book’s synopsis reads. “It’s a story that transcends the pitch, exploring what it means to be a kid who dares to dream of achieving the impossible, and the man who perseveres to get there.”

The book is being published by Penguin Random House Canada and is available online through retailers like Amazon.

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A total of seven 7 Brampton players made the cut for Canada’s 2022 World Cup roster including Tajon Buchanan, Cyle Larin and David “Junior” Hoilett.

The Canadians secured their ticket to Qatar with a 4-0 win over Jamaica in March at Toronto’s BMO Field with one game to spare. They finished with a 14-2-4 record across three rounds of qualifying in the region, outscoring the opposition 54-8.

Located at the Century Gardens Recreation Centre, the Atiba Hutchinson Soccer Court is open for drop-in games and available for players to hone their skills.