LAFC midfielder Mathieu Choinière, the pride of Saint-Alexandre, Quebec (pop. 2,722), is making his World Cup debut for his home country—joining LAFC teammates Jacob Shaffelburg and Stephen Eustáquio (Canada) and forward Son Heung-Min (Korea Republic) on the game’s grandest stage. The 27-year-old sat down with LAFC.com recently for a rapid-fire Q&A session.
LAFC.COM: What three words best describe how you're feeling ahead of your first World Cup?
CHOINIÈRE: Excitement, enthusiasm, and win.
LAFC.COM: What is your favorite thing about your hometown, Saint-Alexandre?
CHOINIÈRE: My family. All of my people are there. My parents’ home.
LAFC.COM: What advice would you give to your 12-year-old self?
CHOINIÈRE: Just enjoy the game and give 100 percent every single day.
LAFC.COM: What legendary footballer would you love to meet?
CHOINIÈRE: [Andres] Iniesta or [Luka] Modric.
LAFC.COM: What is your all-time 5-a-side team? You and four other players from the history of world football.
CHOINIÈRE: Wow. Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo. Modric with me in the middle. (long pause, thinking)
LAFC.COM: Defender? You have to have someone defending.
CHOINIÈRE: [Sergio] Ramos.
LAFC.COM: OK. All-time Canadian 5-a-side team.
CHOINIÈRE: Wow. Tough one. (long pause) Johnny—Jonathan David. Fonzie [Alphonso Davies]. Midfield, Patrice Bernier and me. Centerback? That’s a hard one. (thinks several seconds) Moïse Bombito.
LAFC.COM: If Jesse Marsch allowed you to bring one LAFC teammate to the World Cup with you, who would you bring?
CHOINIÈRE: Denis. [Denis Bouanga]
LAFC.COM: What item are you definitely packing in your bag when you leave for the World Cup?
CHOINIÈRE: My iPad.
LAFC.COM: What will you miss most when you're with the team at the World Cup?
CHOINIÈRE: My wife and kid, for sure.
LAFC.COM: What's your favorite part of being a dad?
CHOINIÈRE: Just the day-to-day happiness of being with my little boy. When I come home, whatever my day has been like at training, I can be sad or whatever, he doesn't care. He's just happy to see me.
LAFC.COM: How did you meet your wife?
CHOINIÈRE: It was through friends, after a game.
LAFC.COM: If you weren't a pro footballer, what would you be doing?
CHOINIÈRE: Probably a coach.
LAFC.COM: Why do you wear number 66 for LAFC?
CHOINIÈRE: For my son. He was born June 6.
LAFC.COM: And that’s why you wear number 6 for Canada?
CHOINIÈRE: Yes, same reason. So he can always be with me.
LAFC.COM: Messi or Ronaldo?
CHOINIÈRE: (laughs) I can’t decide. I just enjoy both.
LAFC.COM: OK. Canada-LA question: Drake or Kendrick?
CHOINIÈRE: Drake. No hesitation.
LAFC.COM: Favorite pre-match meal.
CHOINIÈRE: Waffles.
LAFC.COM: Perfect.
CHOINIÈRE: With maple syrup!
LAFC.COM: Of course. Toughest midfielder you have faced in MLS.
CHOINIÈRE: (thinks several seconds) I’ll say [Sergio] Busquets. Can't touch him.
LAFC.COM: Your favorite LAFC memory.
CHOINIÈRE: My first game when I arrived last year. I was feeling very excited about the fans and everything. I didn't know what the atmosphere on the pitch would look like and I was very impressed by it. So yeah, my first game.
LAFC.COM: Greatest Canadian footballer of all time.
CHOINIÈRE: (very long pause) I would say Fonzie [Davies] in terms of impact on the country, the people.
LAFC.COM: Trivia time. Which Canadian province produces over 70 percent of the world's maple syrup?
CHOINIÈRE: Quebec. Easy one.
LAFC.COM: What Canadian city is known as Hollywood North?
CHOINIÈRE: What?
LAFC.COM: They shoot a lot of movies there.
CHOINIÈRE: Oh. Vancouver.
LAFC.COM: Against what country did you make your debut for Canada?
CHOINIÈRE: Japan.
LAFC.COM: Who has received more yellow cards in a Canada shirt, you or Shaffelburg?
CHOINIÈRE: (laughs) Shaff for sure.
LAFC.COM: Yep. He has four, you have three. Who was the first player in the history of Montreal CF Academy to play at every youth level, from U-13 to U-19, before playing for the first team?
CHOINIÈRE: Me.
LAFC.COM: Two current LAFC players played in the MLS All-Star Game in 2023 and 2024. Denis Bouanga and who else?
CHOINIÈRE: Hugo Lloris?
LAFC.COM: Nope, Hugo came to LAFC in 2024.
CHOINIÈRE: Ryan? [Hollingshead]
LAFC.COM: It was you, man!
CHOINIÈRE: No, no. Take me out of it! (laughs)
LAFC.COM: You have to give yourself some credit.
CHOINIÈRE: No, take me out of it please. (laughs)
LAFC.COM: Nope, you’re in there.
