bˈɔːɹn ɪn bˈɛlfæst, mə kˈæn plˈeɪd ɪnðə dɪstˈɪlɚɹi jˈuːθ sˈɪstəm fɹʌm nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd nˈaɪnti fˈaɪv ʌntˈɪl sˈaɪnɪŋ fɚðə wˈɛst hˈæm juːnˈaɪɾᵻd ɐkˈædəmi ʌv fˈʊtbɔːl ɪn nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd nˈaɪnti sˈɪks, wˌɛɹ hiː stˈɑːɹɾᵻd hɪz pɹəfˈɛʃənəl kɚɹˈɪɹ.
Born in Belfast, McCann played in the Distillery youth system from 1995 until signing for the West Ham United Academy of Football in 1996, where he started his professional career.