Who is Zac McGraw? The latest dual-national newcomer earns CanMNT nod

The Canadian men's national team roster for the 2023 Concacaf Gold Cup has been announced, and for a fair amount of the 23-player selection, this tournament will be their first time dawning the national kit.

One of those newcomers is 26-year-old centre-back Zac McGraw of the Portland Timbers. Born and raised in Torrance, California, McGraw played his college soccer for Army West Point in the United States and became the first player drafted to MLS from the military program when he was selected 68th overall at the 2020 MLS SuperDraft by Portland. Since then, he's made 52 appearances for the Timbers, and has taken his latest career step in committing to John Herdman's Canada team on the international level.

He brings depth to a position of need for Canada, shoring up a backline that usually features some combination of three central defenders, and the Gold Cup will provide Canadian national team fans with their first look at the newly-declared dual national.

But how did Herdman and his staff find McGraw and bring him on board?

His mother, Laurie McGraw, is from Spirit River, Alberta, giving Zac the unique opportunity to be able to represent either the United States or Canada internationally. And he's seemingly not shy about his Canadian roots, either.

Little Zac loves to see this 👀 https://t.co/ixorydJg70 pic.twitter.com/BLDaItqEGw

— Zac McGraw (@zacmcgraw8) May 22, 2023

With the abundance of young talent coming through the U.S. soccer system, coupled with McGraw not getting the call to represent the USMNT on the pitch yet, he'll now have the opportunity to prove himself as part of a rival nation.

The 6-foot-4 central defender has been lights out at the back for Portland despite the Timbers sitting in 9th place of the Western Conference. He brings everything to the table you’d want from a traditional centre-half, he’s strong, physical, positionally aware and good with both feet, playing as a right footed LCB:

He currently leads MLS in clearances (105) as well as ranking top 6 in interceptions (32), helping the Portland Timbers better their defensive record, especially of recent; having not conceded a goal in their last 3 contests.

It will be interesting to see how much use John Herdman makes of McGraw over the tournament and along with that how McGraw will be used in the Canada system.

Herdman will usually set the team up in some variation of a 3 back formation, if the trend continues as it likely will into the Gold Cup, it could take some time for McGraw to get comfortable as he’s used to playing in a back 4 with Portland.

The outside centre-back role can be very demanding from a technical and physical standpoint in Canada’s team, requiring great vision and ball carrying ability along with the usual defensive attributes.

Just in case there was anyone still doubting how Canadian Zac McGraw is #CanMNT pic.twitter.com/NyQCJIICIR

— Les Rouges 🇨🇦 (@OnlyLesRouges) June 9, 2023

If there’s an area that McGraw’s game could be lacking it could be that on-ball quality that the likes of Kamal Miller and Alistair Johnston possess. This makes it seem like McGraw will feature in that central role in the back 3 that’s usually occupied by Steven Vitoria, who at 36, doesn’t have many more appearances for Canada ahead of him.

With legends like Atiba Hutchinson hanging them up for good, this really feels like a transitional period for Canada. 

The Gold Cup squad really seems like a sign of the times changing, knowing there is tons of work to be done ahead of hosting the 2026 World Cup, this is the perfect time to find out who will make up the group of talent representing our country on the biggest stage.