Ameer Kinani

Ameer Kinani
Personal information
Full name Ameer Ala'a Kadhim Kinani
Date of birth (2001-04-20) April 20, 2001 (age 25)
Place of birth Baghdad, Iraq
Height 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position Forward
Team information
Current team
Oman Club
Youth career
FC Emery
York Jets SC
Vaughan Azzurri
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2019 George Brown Huskies 8 (7)
2022 TMU Bold 13 (7)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2020–2021 Cartagena FC 10 (2)
2021 Atlético Benidorm 2 (0)
2022 ProStars FC 20 (17)
2023 Vancouver FC 18 (1)
2024 Duhok SC 1 (0)
2025 Al-Khaburah 12 (4)
2025 Sohar 7 (8)
2026 Al-Nahda (Oman) 13 (2)
2026– Oman Club 0 (0)
International career
2018 Iraq U19 1+ (0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 14 July 2026

Ameer Ala'a Kadhim Kinani (Arabic: أمير علاء كاظم الكناني; born April 20, 2001) is an Iraqi footballer who plays for Oman Club in the Oman Professional League.

Early life

Born in Iraq, Kinani moved to Canada at age seven, where he began playing youth soccer with FC Emery (formerly known as Tecnico Ambato FC). He later played youth soccer with York Jets SC and Vaughan Azzurri.

Collegiate career

In 2019, he began attending George Brown College, where he played for the men's soccer team. On October 14, 2019, he scored four goals in the final twenty minutes of a 6–1 victory over the Cenntenial Colts, a performance which earned him George Brown's Athlete of the Week honours.

In September 2022, he began attending Toronto Metropolitan University, where he played for the men's soccer team. On October 1, he scored a brace against the Royal Military College Paladins for his first goals. On October 16, he scored a hat trick against the Laurentian Voyageurs. On October 29, he scored the winning goal in the 90th minute on a penalty kick to give TMU a 2–1 victory over the Carleton Ravens in the OUA semi-finals. In his first season with TMU, he helped them win an OUA silver medal, and a fifth-place finish at the U SPORTS national championship.

Club career

In 2020, he joined Spanish club Cartagena FC in the Tercera División.

In September 2021, he joined Atlético Benidorm in the Preferente Valenciana. However, soon afterwards, he returned to Canada, due to the expiry of his Spanish visa.

In 2022, he played with ProStars FC in League1 Ontario. He was named an honourable mention on the year-end all-stars team list.

In December 2022, he was selected second overall in the 2023 CPL-U Sports Draft by Vancouver FC. After attending pre-season with the club, he signed a U Sports developmental contract with the club, allowing him to maintain his university eligibility. He made his professional debut on April 15, in a substitute appearance against Pacific FC. He scored his first goal on June 20, in a 2–0 victory over Forge FC, also recording an assist in the match on the first goal of the match. Upon the expiry of his U Sports deal in August, he extended his contract for the remainder of the 2023 season.

In August 2024, he signed with Iraq Stars League club Duhok SC.

In January 2025, he moved to Oman Professional League club Al-Khaburah. He scored in his first match. Afterwards, he joined Sohar. In January 2026, he joined Al-Nahda. In July 2026, he signed with Oman Club.

International career

In 2018, a highlight reel that he posted online attracted the attention of the Iraq Football Association and he was called up to the Iraq U19 a trial, where he participated in multiple friendlies. He was then called up for the 2018 AFC U-19 Championship.

In December 2022, he attended a camp with the Canada national futsal team, making his debut in the Canadian program.

In April 2025, he stated it was his goal to represent Iraq at senior level.

Personal

Kinani is the son of former Iraq national team player Alaa Kadhim.

Career statistics

As of October 6, 2023
Club Season League Playoffs Domestic Cup Other Total
Division AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Cartagena FC 2020–21 Tercera División 102––10112
Atlético Benidorm 2021–22 Preferente Valenciana 20–––20
ProStars FC 2022 League1 Ontario 201710––2117
Vancouver FC 2023 Canadian Premier League 181–10–191
Career total 50201010105320

References

  1. ↑ Nava, David (August 29, 2023). "Ameer Kinani reflects on his first year as a pro". Vancouver FC.
  2. ↑ Tierney, Mitchell (December 19, 2022). "'This was always my dream': Ameer Kinani's incredible journey to being drafted by Vancouver FC". Canadian Premier League.
  3. 1 2 Ameer Kinani at Canada Soccer
  4. 1 2 "Pair of Huskies dign pro deals in Europe". George Brown College. November 20, 2020.
  5. ↑ "Ameer Kinani George Brown profile". George Brown College.
  6. ↑ "Soccer teams celebrate seniors day with sweep of Centennial". George Brown College. October 14, 2019.
  7. ↑ "Athletes of the week". George Brown College. October 15, 2019.
  8. ↑ Langford, Andrea (September 7, 2022). "Striker Ameer Kinani bolsters Bold offence". TMU Bold.
  9. ↑ "Ameer Kinani TMU profile". TMU Bold.
  10. ↑ Johnson, Matt (October 1, 2022). "Abdi, Fafinski combine for eight goals, Bold blow past Paladins". TMU Bold.
  11. ↑ Flores-Chan, Christina (October 16, 2022). "Bold clinch playoff berth with 6-1 win over Voyageurs". TMU Bold.
  12. ↑ Fox, Mitchell (October 31, 2022). "Kinani strikes late as Bold conquer Ravens, advance to semi-finals". The Eyeopener.
  13. ↑ Langford, Andrea (December 15, 2022). "Bold forward Ameer Kinani drafted by CPL's Vancouver FC". TMU Bold.
  14. ↑ Gorsky, Keiran (February 14, 2023). "From U Sports nationals to Vancouver Football Club". The Eyeopener.
  15. ↑ "El CF Gandía buscará su primera victoria como local ante el Atlético Benidorm" [CF Gandia will seek its first win at home against Atlético Benidorm]. CF Gandía (in Spanish). 24 September 2021.
  16. 1 2 3 Kinani, Ameer. "The Journey - Just Like Dad". Touchline Insider.
  17. 1 2 "Ameer Kinani 2022 L1O Stats". League1 Ontario.
  18. ↑ "Ilyass, Green, and Ferrin lead the line in the 2022 Men's Premier Division All-Star team". League1 Ontario. November 17, 2022.
  19. ↑ Tierney, Mitchell (December 15, 2022). "Vancouver FC select White, Kinani as club's first-ever CPL-U SPORTS Draft picks". Canadian Premier League.
  20. ↑ Jacques, John (March 22, 2023). "Vancouver FC Signs Both Draft Picks Ahead Of First Season". Northern Tribune.
  21. 1 2 "Vancouver FC sign top two 2023 CPL-U SPORTS Draft picks". Canadian Premier League. March 22, 2023.
  22. 1 2 3 "#18 Kinani will remain with VFC until end of season". Vancouver FC. August 28, 2023.
  23. ↑ "'Historic' first home win for Vancouver FC". Langley Adavance Times. June 21, 2023.
  24. ↑ Jacques, John (August 29, 2023). "Striker Ameer Kinani Extends Stay With Vancouver". Northern Tribune.
  25. ↑ "دهوك يتعاقد مع المهاجم أمير علاء من الدوري الكندي" [Duhok signs striker Amir Alaa from Canadian League]. AZL Sport (in Arabic). August 8, 2024.
  26. ↑ الخابورة (Ahmed Al-Buraiki) (January 13, 2025). "الخابورة يعزز صفوفه بالعراقي أمير كاظم" [Al-Khaboura strengthens its ranks with the Iraqi Ameer Kinani]. Oman Daily Observer (in Arabic).
  27. ↑ "مهاجم نادي الخابورة أمير علاء كاظم:مجتمعنا الرياضي الكروي في العراق لا يتقبل نجل لاعب دولي سابق ان يمثل المنتخب الوطني" [Al-Khaboura striker Amir Alaa Kadhim: Our footballing community in Iraq does not accept the son of a former international player representing the national team]. Shabiba (in Arabic). February 4, 2025.
  28. ↑ "نادي النهضة يضم اللاعب العراقي أمير علاء كاظم قادما من نادي صحار ويستعد الراقي لمباراته أمام الزعيم الظفراوي بعد غد الأربعاء ضمن منافسات الأسبوع التاسع لدوري جندال" [Al-Nahda Club has signed Iraqi player Amir Alaa Kadhim from Sohar Club and is preparing for its match against Al-Dhafra Club on Wednesday, as part of the ninth week of the Jindal League.]. Nabd (in Arabic). January 5, 2026.
  29. ↑ @omanclub42 (July 13, 2026). "نرحب بالكابتن أمير_علاء" [We welcome أمير_علاء] (Tweet) (in Arabic) – via X (formerly Twitter).
  30. ↑ محمود الحمداني (Mahmoud Al-Hamdani) (April 29, 2025). "محترف نادي الخابورة العماني أمير كاظم: تلقيت عروضاً عراقيَّة وكنديَّة وأتمنى تمثيل أسود الرافدين" [Amir Kazem, a professional player for Al-Khaboura Club in Oman, said: "I received offers from Iraqi and Canadian clubs, and I hope to represent the Iraqi national team."]. Al Sabaah (in Arabic).
  31. ↑ Ameer Kinani at Soccerway
  32. 1 2 "Ameer Kinani La Preferente profile". La Preferente.