NIKKI
WHAT’S IT TO YA?
July 23, 2026
Nikki Small is a professional footballer for AFC Toronto and a Jamaican international whose journey is built on passion, perseverance, and purpose. From playing House League soccer at just four years old to making history in Canadian women’s football and earning her first international cap for Jamaica, Small continues to reach new heights. Beyond the pitch, she’s equally committed to giving back through her foundation, helping break down barriers for young players and inspiring the next generation to believe that they belong in the game.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
What's your earliest memory of football?
Playing House League at the age of four. I think running around, scoring goals, and just doing everything I could for my team is my earliest memory of playing soccer. I watched a lot of the Canadian national team growing up as well. I also watched a lot of Arsenal, so those two are mainly what I watched before women's soccer became really big. I mainly watch Arsenal still because my dad’s a huge fan, so I’ll watch that. That was always on TV.
When did becoming a professional player become a reality for you?
Honestly, our home opener at BMO Field, I think seeing 14,000 people fill up the stands for a team they’ve never seen play before was like, ‘wow, women's soccer is here in Canada’ and I’m actually a professional and people paid to come and watch me play. So that was pretty special.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
What's your earliest memory of football?
Playing House League at the age of four. I think running around, scoring goals, and just doing everything I could for my team is my earliest memory of playing soccer. I watched a lot of the Canadian national team growing up as well. I also watched a lot of Arsenal, so those two are mainly what I watched before women's soccer became really big. I mainly watch Arsenal still because my dad’s a huge fan, so I’ll watch that. That was always on TV.
When did becoming a professional player become a reality for you?
Honestly, our home opener at BMO Field, I think seeing 14,000 people fill up the stands for a team they’ve never seen play before was like, ‘wow, women's soccer is here in Canada’ and I’m actually a professional and people paid to come and watch me play. So that was pretty special.
Tell us a bit more about your journey getting there.
I started playing soccer at four years old. I played for Pickering for my House League team, the red team. I went through the ranks of House League, and then I started rep soccer at nine years old for Ajax FC. Played there for about five years, and then I moved back to Pickering when OPDL became a thing. I played there for about two years, did really well, made the provincial team, and then eventually went to the NDC program, which at the time was called the Rex program, and that’s where I was playing with the best of the best in the province.
From there, I made the U-15 Canadian National team, U-17, U-20. Also during that time, I was recruited to go D1 at Wake Forest University, and I played there all four years and we made it to the national championship my senior year, too. During my time in college, I went to the U-20s and captained that team. And then, from my career at university, I was given the opportunity to play here back at home for AFC Toronto, and our first year was amazing. We won the Supporters’ Shield. We made history in Canada. Not too much more you can ask for, being back home and making history.
Then this year, my second year around, we're looking to do the same thing, and I also got the opportunity to represent Jamaica, my grandmother's home country. I got to debut this month, and I’m hoping to continue and hopefully go to a World Cup next year.
I started playing soccer at four years old. I played for Pickering for my House League team, the red team. I went through the ranks of House League, and then I started rep soccer at nine years old for Ajax FC. Played there for about five years, and then I moved back to Pickering when OPDL became a thing. I played there for about two years, did really well, made the provincial team, and then eventually went to the NDC program, which at the time was called the Rex program, and that’s where I was playing with the best of the best in the province.
From there, I made the U-15 Canadian National team, U-17, U-20. Also during that time, I was recruited to go D1 at Wake Forest University, and I played there all four years and we made it to the national championship my senior year, too. During my time in college, I went to the U-20s and captained that team. And then, from my career at university, I was given the opportunity to play here back at home for AFC Toronto, and our first year was amazing. We won the Supporters’ Shield. We made history in Canada. Not too much more you can ask for, being back home and making history.
Then this year, my second year around, we're looking to do the same thing, and I also got the opportunity to represent Jamaica, my grandmother's home country. I got to debut this month, and I’m hoping to continue and hopefully go to a World Cup next year.
Can you tell us about your favourite moment in your career so far?
I have a couple. I think the most recent one is obviously debuting for Jamaica. That’s something I’ve always been working towards, and I'm so happy that it finally happened, so that was a big moment. Winning the Supporters’ Shield with AFC Toronto, again, making history in Canadian women's soccer, and also going to a national championship with my college team.
Can you tell us about some of the work you do off the pitch?
I’m a very big community person. I actually started a foundation. It’s called The Small Foundation, and essentially what I want to do in Toronto and in Canada is break barriers for young girls and boys to come and play soccer, free of cost. I also think representation is such a huge thing for me because growing up there weren’t a lot of girls that really looked like me, so I didn’t really have anyone to look up to. So now, being back home at AFC and seeing all the girls and boys that come and watch us play, I think it’s important to be that person they can see on the field so that they can strive to be that as well. I just think in Canada, obviously, or just around the world in general, soccer is expensive. So being able to provide for these kids to come and play soccer for free or at little to no cost is really important, and I just want the soccer community to continue to grow, ‘cause obviously the next generation is really important for the growth of women’s sports and soccer.
I have a couple. I think the most recent one is obviously debuting for Jamaica. That’s something I’ve always been working towards, and I'm so happy that it finally happened, so that was a big moment. Winning the Supporters’ Shield with AFC Toronto, again, making history in Canadian women's soccer, and also going to a national championship with my college team.
Can you tell us about some of the work you do off the pitch?
I’m a very big community person. I actually started a foundation. It’s called The Small Foundation, and essentially what I want to do in Toronto and in Canada is break barriers for young girls and boys to come and play soccer, free of cost. I also think representation is such a huge thing for me because growing up there weren’t a lot of girls that really looked like me, so I didn’t really have anyone to look up to. So now, being back home at AFC and seeing all the girls and boys that come and watch us play, I think it’s important to be that person they can see on the field so that they can strive to be that as well. I just think in Canada, obviously, or just around the world in general, soccer is expensive. So being able to provide for these kids to come and play soccer for free or at little to no cost is really important, and I just want the soccer community to continue to grow, ‘cause obviously the next generation is really important for the growth of women’s sports and soccer.
Was there a moment that you knew you wanted to start this foundation or an experience that made you want to do this?
I wouldn’t say I can pinpoint an exact moment. I just think growing up, I’ve always been the type to help out. I’ve always stayed later to help with the younger teens, because I just love working with kids, and I think all throughout my career, I’ve always made time to work with younger teams or go help out in the community. When I was in college, once a week on top of my soccer schedule and my school schedule, I would go coach a team for an hour or two. I would go deliver food to neighbouring communities that didn't have a lot. At the end of the day, if you want to do it, you'll make time for what you love, and I really love giving back to people because we are so fortunate in what we have. If I can be a small part of somebody's success, I would love to do that.
What are some of your future goals in the sport and beyond?
I think one of my main goals, aside from soccer, is to be a lawyer, to help give back, again, just to help younger athletes or like athletes in general, because obviously, if I’m going through it now, I could help in that process of maybe being like an agent or helping people get the best out of their career in terms of soccer. I'd love to go to a World Cup. I’d love to go to the Olympics, and I’d love to play in the Champions League.
I wouldn’t say I can pinpoint an exact moment. I just think growing up, I’ve always been the type to help out. I’ve always stayed later to help with the younger teens, because I just love working with kids, and I think all throughout my career, I’ve always made time to work with younger teams or go help out in the community. When I was in college, once a week on top of my soccer schedule and my school schedule, I would go coach a team for an hour or two. I would go deliver food to neighbouring communities that didn't have a lot. At the end of the day, if you want to do it, you'll make time for what you love, and I really love giving back to people because we are so fortunate in what we have. If I can be a small part of somebody's success, I would love to do that.
What are some of your future goals in the sport and beyond?
I think one of my main goals, aside from soccer, is to be a lawyer, to help give back, again, just to help younger athletes or like athletes in general, because obviously, if I’m going through it now, I could help in that process of maybe being like an agent or helping people get the best out of their career in terms of soccer. I'd love to go to a World Cup. I’d love to go to the Olympics, and I’d love to play in the Champions League.
You mentioned wanting to be a lawyer. One, what inspired you to want to pursue that, and how does it fit with your football ambitions?
See, when I was younger—this has nothing to do with soccer—but I don't know if you’ve seen the show How to Get Away with Murder? Anyways, Annalise Keating is such a good lawyer. I don’t want anything to do with murder and all that stuff, but I think she’s such a good lawyer. And, again, she was a black woman in this very powerful position. So then when I went to school, I was in the business school, and I did business law, and I just love the business side of things, and I also love law. I think it's so interesting. I took it in high school, and I took it in college. Obviously, right now, being in this professional realm, I'm not gonna do it right now. But just learning the business side of the sport and being able to see how different things work: one, being an athlete and being in that exact position, so knowing how athletes feel, and two, having the knowledge of what I will gain once I go into the law world, I think that would be very valuable. And also just being a woman in that space would just be very cool and powerful, too.
See, when I was younger—this has nothing to do with soccer—but I don't know if you’ve seen the show How to Get Away with Murder? Anyways, Annalise Keating is such a good lawyer. I don’t want anything to do with murder and all that stuff, but I think she’s such a good lawyer. And, again, she was a black woman in this very powerful position. So then when I went to school, I was in the business school, and I did business law, and I just love the business side of things, and I also love law. I think it's so interesting. I took it in high school, and I took it in college. Obviously, right now, being in this professional realm, I'm not gonna do it right now. But just learning the business side of the sport and being able to see how different things work: one, being an athlete and being in that exact position, so knowing how athletes feel, and two, having the knowledge of what I will gain once I go into the law world, I think that would be very valuable. And also just being a woman in that space would just be very cool and powerful, too.
