The Halifax Wanderers have acquired Canadian midfielder Liam Mackenzie on loan from the Vancouver Whitecaps until the end of the 2026 Canadian Premier League season. A goal-scoring midfielder, Mackenzie gives the Wanderers another attacking threat as the club enters the final matches of the season, pushing for a spot in the CPL Playoffs.
Mackenzie, 19, comes to Halifax during a standout 2026 season so far. The attacking midfielder scored seven goals in nine games for Whitecaps 2 in MLS Next Pro and was a key member of Canada’s U-20 men’s national team during their run to qualify for the 2027 FIFA U-20 World Cup.
“It’s exciting to be coming to Halifax, and I’m just looking forward to getting going with the team and doing the best we can every day to make a playoff push,” Mackenzie said. “I’m feeling really confident with where my game is at right now and excited for this opportunity with Vanni, who’s a great coach, and it’s cool to be able to play for him again.”
From Comox, B.C., Mackenzie began his playing career on Vancouver Island before signing with the Whitecaps Academy in 2020. He was team captain for the Whitecaps' U-15 and U-17 teams and was the U-15 player of the year in 2022. In 2023, Mackenzie made his debut for Whitecaps 2 in MLS Next Pro and made his first-team debut for the Whitecaps in 2024 under current Wanderers head coach Vanni Sartini. A season later, Mackenzie made his first MLS start in March 2025 against the Chicago Fire.
This season, Mackenzie was an integral part of Canada’s U-20 men’s national team, making 12 appearances and scoring five goals. Mackenzie scored the goal that qualified Canada for the 2027 FIFA U-20 World Cup, with his second goal of the game as Canada went on to defeat Jamaica 3-1 in extra time in the quarterfinals of the Concacaf U-20 Championship. He was also Canada’s captain for a majority of the matches he played in.
With the U-20s, he played under men's national team head coach Jesse Marsch alongside fellow CPL players Sergei Kozlovskiy, Emrick Fotsing, Zayne Bruno, Marsel Bibishkov and Shola Jimoh.
“Liam is one of the best young talents in all of Canada and immediately adds someone who can both score and assist goals,” Wanderers head coach and general manager Vanni Sartini said. “He’s great technically, knows when to arrive in the box at the right time and comes to Halifax in great form. When I coached him in Vancouver, you could see the talent right away, and he has grown a lot since then, both on the field and physically.”
Mackenzie has arrived in Halifax and is eligible for selection in the Wanderers' match on Monday, Sept. 7 against Cavalry FC.