Wan Kuzain

Wan Kuzain
Wan Kuzain in 2019
Personal information
Full name Wan Kuzain bin Wan Ahmad Kamal
Date of birth (1998-09-14) September 14, 1998 (age 28)
Place of birth Carbondale, Illinois, USA
Height 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position Midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Sporting JAX
Number 8
Youth career
2015–2016 St. Louis Scott Gallagher
2016–2017 Sporting Kansas City
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2016 Saint Louis FC 0 (0)
2017–2020 Sporting Kansas City II 58 (4)
2018–2020 Sporting Kansas City 6 (1)
2021 Rio Grande Valley FC 19 (3)
2022–2025 St. Louis City 2 88 (14)
2026– Sporting JAX 14 (2)
International career‡
2015 United States U17
2026– Malaysia 4 (1)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 21:43, 21 July 2026 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals as of 15:00, 28 July 2026 (UTC)

Wan Kuzain bin Wan Ahmad Kamal (born September 14, 1998) is a professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for USL Championship side Sporting JAX. Born in the United States, he was a United States youth international before appearing for the Malaysia national team.

Career

Early

Born and raised by his Malaysian parents in Carbondale, Illinois, United States, Wan Kuzain played Academy soccer with St. Louis Scott Gallagher. He was chosen to represent United States U-17 soccer team in 2013 and 2014 and also trained with Feyenoord Academy in 2015. Wan Kuzain signed with United Soccer League side Saint Louis FC on May 21, 2016. While there, he spent time on loan with the club's USL Premier Development League side Saint Louis FC U23.

Swope Park Rangers

After spending time at the Sporting Kansas City academy, Wan Kuzain joined Kansas City's USL affiliate Swope Park Rangers in March 2017. That same year, he became the first player of Malaysian heritage to play in the USL, and to win the Western Conference.

Sporting Kansas City

Kuzain signed with the Sporting Kansas City first team in April 2018. Kuzain scored his first MLS goal on June 3, 2018, against Minnesota United in a 4–1 victory.

Kuzain's contract option was declined by Kansas City following their 2020 season.

Rio Grande Valley FC Toros

On March 1, 2021, Kuzain signed with USL Championship side Rio Grande Valley FC Toros.

St. Louis City 2

On February 7, 2022, Kuzain signed with St. Louis City 2 in MLS Next Pro.

Sporting JAX

On January 17, 2026, via the team's YouTube channel, USL Championship expansion club Sporting Club Jacksonville, better known as Sporting JAX, announced the addition of Kuzain to their inaugural roster.

International

Being born in the United States with Malaysian heritage, he is eligible to represent both the United States and Malaysia.

Kuzain has trained with and represented the United States at the under-17 level in 2013 and 2014.

In November 2019, Kuzain was called up to train with the Malaysia under-22 national team ahead of the 2019 Southeast Asian Games. However, he was left out of the squad due to citizenship documentation issue.

In 2026, he was called up to the Malaysia senior team for their campaign in the 2026 ASEAN Championship. He eventually made his international debut on 25 July in the match against Myanmar at the Thuwunna Stadium, coming on as a substitute in the second half. In the following match against Laos on 28 July, Kuzain, also coming on as a substitute, scored his first international goal, a near post free kick to give Malaysia a 4–0 victory at the Kuala Lumpur Stadium.

Personal life

His older brother, Wan Ahmad Fayhsal, is a Malaysian politician, while his younger brother, Wan Kuzri, is a US-based soccer player who was selected to join the provisional Malaysia national under-23 football team preparing for the 2022 AFF U-23 Championship.

Career statistics

As of match played July 13, 2026
Club Season League National cup Continental Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Swope Park Rangers 2017 USL 120––10130
2018 USL 203––21224
2019 USL Championship 251–––251
Sporting Kansas City II 2020 USL Championship 10–––10
Total 584000031615
Sporting Kansas City 2018 MLS 6120––81
2019 MLS 0000000000
2020 MLS 00–––00
Total 6120000081
Rio Grande Valley FC 2021 USL Championship 193000000193
St. Louis City 2 2022 MLS Next Pro 23521–30286
2023 MLS Next Pro 285––10295
2024 MLS Next Pro 143––00143
2025 MLS Next Pro 23 1 – – 2 0 25 1
Total 88142100609613
Sporting Jax 2026 USL Championship 12 2 4 0 – 0 0 16 2
Career total 1832441007120026

Honors

Swope Park Rangers

St. Louis City 2

Individual

Notes

  1. ↑ Includes US Open Cup
  2. ↑ Appearances in playoffs
  3. ↑ Appearances in playoffs
  4. ↑ Appearances in playoffs
  5. ↑ Appearances in playoffs

References

  1. ↑ "Wan Kuzain One-on-one: "It'll be an honour to wear either jersey, Malaysia or US"". FourFourTwo. December 12, 2017. Archived from the original on June 17, 2018. Retrieved April 16, 2018.
  2. 1 2 "Wan Kuzain Wan Kamal". Sporting Kansas City. Retrieved October 13, 2018.
  3. 1 2 Bergabo, Patrick (August 18, 2016). "Swope Park Rangers sign Albelo, Hernandez, Wan Kamal and Wilkinson from Sporting KC Academy". Sporting KC. Retrieved November 30, 2017.
  4. 1 2 "Sporting midfielder Wan Kuzain trains with Malaysia U-22 Men's National Team". Sporting Kansas City. Retrieved December 29, 2021.
  5. ↑ "Saint Louis FC Sign Two Academy Players - Saint Louis Football Club". Archived from the original on April 8, 2017. Retrieved April 7, 2017.
  6. ↑ "Statistics - 2016 Regular Season - Premier Development League". www.uslpdl.com. Archived from the original on August 1, 2017. Retrieved February 25, 2018.
  7. ↑ "'Malaysian Messi' Wan Kuzain creates history with American debut". NST Online. March 28, 2017. Retrieved February 25, 2018.
  8. ↑ Hashim, Firdaus (November 8, 2017). "Kuzain cipta sejarah". BH Online. Media Prima Group. Retrieved November 30, 2017.
  9. ↑ "'Malaysian Messi' Wan Kuzain creates history with American debut". New Straits Times. Kuala Lumpur: Media Prima Group. March 28, 2017. Retrieved November 30, 2017.
  10. ↑ Kovzan, Sam. "Sporting KC signs 19-year-old midfielder Wan Kuzain Wan Kamal as Homegrown Player". SportingKC.com. Retrieved November 22, 2019.
  11. ↑ Kovzan, Sam (April 13, 2018). "Sporting KC signs 19-year-old midfielder Wan Kuzain Wan Kamal as Homegrown Player". Sporting Kansas City. Archived from the original on April 14, 2018. Retrieved October 13, 2018.
  12. ↑ "Sporting KC announces roster moves ahead of 2021 MLS season". Sporting Kansas City. Retrieved February 7, 2022.
  13. ↑ "Wan Kuzain Makes Move to Toros". March 2021.
  14. ↑ "UNVEILING ST. LOUIS CITY 2'S MLS NEXT PRO ROSTER". February 7, 2022. Archived from the original on February 7, 2022. Retrieved February 7, 2022.
  15. ↑ "Just about to get busy Season 3/Episode 2". YouTube.com. Sporting JAX. Retrieved January 17, 2026.
  16. ↑ Azharie, Farah (November 1, 2019). "Where's Wan Kuzain?". New Straits Times. Kuala Lumpur: Media Prima Group. Retrieved November 1, 2019.
  17. ↑ "Wan Kuzain Wan Kamal in contention for Malaysia U-23 call-up". Football Tribe Asia. Sapporo: Football Tribe Inc. March 30, 2017. Retrieved October 13, 2018.
  18. ↑ Ishak, Fadhli (November 20, 2019). "Footballer Wan Kuzain's poor BM a non-issue". New Straits Times. Kuala Lumpur: Media Prima Group. Retrieved November 22, 2019.
  19. ↑ Azharie, Farah (November 25, 2019). "Kuzain gutted not to be able to represent Malaysia". New Straits Times. Kuala Lumpur: Media Prima Group. Retrieved November 25, 2019.
  20. ↑ Mansor, Zulfaizan (July 23, 2026). "Wan Kuzain lepaskan pasport Amerika demi Harimau Malaya". Berita Harian. Kuala Lumpur: The New Straits Times Press. Retrieved July 23, 2026.
  21. ↑ K. Rajan (July 29, 2026). "Dream goal for Wan Kuzain in just his second cap". New Straits Times. Kuala Lumpur: Media Prima Group. Retrieved July 29, 2026.
  22. ↑ "Wan Kuzri, Wan Kuzain's minister brother Wan Fayhsal: 'I was more of a rugby player' | Goal.com". www.goal.com. Retrieved December 16, 2021.
  23. ↑ "SENARAI 30 PEMAIN KE KEM LATIHAN PUSAT MENJELANG KEJUARAAN B-23 AFF 2022 DI PHNOM PENH, KEMBOJA | FAM". fam.org.my. Retrieved July 28, 2022.
  24. ↑ "Piala AFF B-23: Wan Kuzri Kembali Sertai Kem Latihan Pusat Skuad Malaysia". VOCKET FC (in Malay). January 22, 2022. Retrieved January 30, 2022.
  25. ↑ Wan Kuzain at Soccerway. Retrieved December 21, 2024.
  26. ↑ "Wan Kuzain". Sporting Kansas City. Retrieved February 7, 2022.
  27. ↑ Villanueva, Araceli (November 5, 2017). "Swope Park Rangers wins back-to-back Western Conference Final titles in dramatic Penalty Shootout". The Blue Statement. Retrieved November 30, 2017.
  28. ↑ MCDowell, Sam (November 13, 2017). "Louisville City FC defeats Swope Park Rangers in USL Cup Final". The Kansas City Star. Retrieved November 30, 2017.
  29. ↑ "2022 MLS Next Pro Conference Standings". MLS Next Pro. Retrieved December 5, 2024.
  30. ↑ "St Louis CITY2 Are MLS NEXT Pro Western Conference Champions". St. Louis City SC. October 2, 2022. Retrieved December 5, 2024.
  31. ↑ "2018 Goal of the Year". uslsoccer.com. Retrieved December 29, 2021.
  32. ↑ "2018 USL Awards Finalists Unveiled". USL Championship. November 8, 2018. Retrieved December 29, 2021.