Draft:Zakaria Taifi
| Submission declined on 28 May 2025 by SafariScribe (talk). This submission's references do not show that the subject qualifies for a Wikipedia article—that is, they do not show significant coverage (not just passing mentions) about the subject in published, reliable, secondary sources that are independent of the subject (see the guidelines for sports persons and athletes). Before any resubmission, additional references meeting these criteria should be added (see technical help and learn about mistakes to avoid when addressing this issue). If no additional references exist, the subject is not suitable for Wikipedia.
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Comment: We need sources about the player and not about his club. Safari ScribeEdits! Talk! 11:18, 28 May 2025 (UTC)
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | October 1, 2005 | ||
| Place of birth | Orlando, Florida, U.S. | ||
| Height | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)[1] | ||
| Position(s) | Defender | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Orlando City | ||
| Number | 96 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2015–2024 | Orlando City | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2022– | Orlando City B | 48 | (1) |
| 2025– | Orlando City | 1 | (0) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of June 6, 2025 | |||
Zakaria Taifi (born October 1, 2005) is a American professional soccer player who plays as a defender for Major League Soccer club Orlando City.
Youth career
[edit]Taifi joined the Orlando City academy in 2015. In 2021, Taifi was a major contributor to the academy winning the 2021 U17 MLS Next Cup against the Player Development Academy.[2]
Club career
[edit]Orlando City B
[edit]Taifi made the bench four times in 2022 for Orlando City B in MLS Next Pro, first being made available from the academy on August 20 against Columbus Crew 2.[3][4]
On March 16, 2023, Taifi made his professional debut when he came on as a 78th-minute substitute for Yutaro Tsukada in a 2–3 win over Atlanta United 2.[5] In the following match six days later against Huntsville City, Taifi made his first start, helping the game to end 1–1. In the following penalty-kick shoot-out, Taifi missed his penalty, but the team would win the shoot-out 3–4 regardless.[6]
On March 12, 2024, Taifi was promoted from the academy and signed a two-year contract with the developmental team.[1]
On March 9, 2025, Taifi scored the first goal of his senior career, the second goal of a 2–1 win over Columbus Crew 2.[7]
Orlando City
[edit]On March 1, 2025, Taifi signed his first short-term agreement with Orlando City which would see him made available for a match against Toronto FC on the same day, but he would be an unused substitute.[8][9] Ahead of a match at CF Montréal on April 19, Taifi signed another short-term agreement, and he would make his debut for the team as an 85th-minute substitute for Martín Ojeda in a scoreless draw.[10][11] On May 17, Taifi signed a homegrown contract through 2026 with club options for 2027, 2028, and 2029, making him the 19th homegrown player for the club.[12]
Career statistics
[edit]Club
[edit]- As of match played June 6, 2025[3]
| Club | Season | League | National cup | Playoffs | Continental | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Orlando City B | 2022 | MLS Next Pro | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 0 | 0 | ||||
| 2023 | 23 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | — | — | 23 | 0 | |||||
| 2024 | 13 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | — | — | 13 | 0 | |||||
| 2025 | 12 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 12 | 1 | ||||||
| Total | 48 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 48 | 1 | ||
| Orlando City | 2025 | Major League Soccer | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | ||
| Career total | 49 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 50 | 1 | ||
References
[edit]- ^ a b "Orlando City SC signs defender Zakaria Taifi to First Team contract". Orlando City. March 12, 2024. Retrieved May 17, 2025.
- ^ "Orlando City B signs academy product Zakaria Taifi". Orlando City B. March 12, 2024. Retrieved March 6, 2025.
- ^ a b "USA – Z. Taifi". Soccerway. Retrieved March 1, 2025.
- ^ "Orlando City B vs. Columbus Crew II". Soccerway. Retrieved March 6, 2025.
- ^ "Atlanta United II vs. Orlando City B". Soccerway. Retrieved March 6, 2025.
- ^ "Huntsville City vs. Orlando City B". Soccerway. Retrieved March 6, 2025.
- ^ "ORLvsCLB 03-09-2025". MLS Next Pro. Retrieved March 9, 2025.
- ^ "Orlando City SC Signs Gustavo Caraballo, Colin Guske & Zakaria Taifi to Short-Term Agreements". Orlando City. Retrieved March 6, 2025.
- ^ "ORLvsTOR 03-01-2025". Major League Soccer. Retrieved March 6, 2025.
- ^ David, Austin (April 19, 2025). "Orlando City Starting XI: The Lions' lineup and bench ahead of their matchup in Montréal". Orlando City. Retrieved April 19, 2025.
- ^ "MTLvsORL 04-19-2025". Major League Soccer. Retrieved April 19, 2025.
- ^ "Orlando City SC signs defender Zakaria Taifi to First Team contract". Orlando City. May 17, 2025. Retrieved May 17, 2025.